Internet Shutdowns in India [UPSC Notes]

Internet shutdowns are when the government deliberately denies or blocks access to the internet for a place or area in view of some security or other concerns. India has enforced internet shutdowns many times in certain places. In this article, you can read all about a report by Access Now and the KeepItOn coalition about internet shutdowns in India for the IAS exam.

Internet Shutdowns India

According to the report, India enforced as many as 84 internet shutdowns in 2022 and was on top of the list of nations that ordered internet shutdowns for the fifth year in a row. The shutdowns were ordered on various accounts including elections, protests, school exams and conflict. 

What are the Highlights of the Report?

• Digital Authoritarianism:
  • Internet shutdowns are threatening acts of digital authoritarianism.
  • According to the report, authorities used shutdowns to try to hide serious rights violations and sever communications between individuals and communities, which also impacted the provision of humanitarian aid and human rights monitoring.
• Indian status:
  • In 2022, the Internet was shut down for the highest number of times in Jammu and Kashmir – 49 times.
  • Rajasthan imposed shutdowns 12 times and West Bengal 7 times.
• Global status:
  • By the end of 2022, people in Tigray, Ethiopia had endured 2+ years of full communications blackout, and many remained disconnected.
  • People in many regions across Myanmar had been in the dark for 500+ days by March 2022.
  • Ukraine comes a distant second with 22 shutdowns in 2022, followed by Iran with 18, and with seven internet shutdowns, Myanmar stands fourth on the list.
  • At least 187 internet shutdowns across 35 countries were recorded in 2022.
  • Thirty-three of these 35 countries are repeat offenders.

Supreme Court Intervention: 

• The Supreme Court, on 10th January 2020, passed the judgment on the case, Anuradha Bhasin versus Union of India. The petition was filed in the court in the wake of internet suspension in Jammu & Kashmir as an aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370.
• This judgment upheld the recognition of the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and freedom to practice any profession under Article 19 (1)(g) over the medium of the internet.
• Moreover, the apex court mandated the legal basis of the internet ban that is subjected to public disclosure.
• The Right to Information requests for the legal basis of internet bans determined that the state governments did not conform with the directives of the apex court.

Impact of Internet Shutdowns

• Economic activity is disrupted including trade, transactions and commerce.
• Education is affected and it affects learning outcomes.
• Access to health and humanitarian assistance is also adversely affected.

Internet Shutdowns in India:- Download PDF Here