Internet shutdown, digital rights and national security

Strategic affairs expert Subimal Bhattacharjee and Software Freedom Law Centre counsel Shashank Mohan talk about Internet shutdowns, the question of national security and need to balance individual freedom and law and order maintenance via shutdowns.

New Delhi: As India witnesses a nationwide stir against the Citizenship Amendment Act, authorities have once again resorted to shutting down the internet, a ploy which is becoming increasingly synonymous with our country. Out of the 196 shutdowns worldwide in 2018, 134 were reported from India alone.

According to the reports of Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI), telecom operators on an average lose Rs 2.45 crore every hour in every circle there is an internet shutdown.

"Although internet shutdown left its impact thoroughly, but it was necessary from the law and order scenario. Keeping in mind the extent to which violence happens and the usage of social media to incite violence, law enforcing agencies have no other option except to shut down the internet, " said strategic affairs expert Subimal Bhattacharjee.

Bhattacharjee, however, suggested that the government should maintain a balance while enforcing shutdowns. "Some avenues need to be shut down instead of the whole internet," he asserted.

According to a study done by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in 2018, internet shutdown added up to over 16,000 hours between 2012 and 2017, costing Indian economy about $3.04 billion (over Rs 21,000 crore).

Read: 229 internet shutdowns in 2 years, largest democracy tops global list

Talking to ETV Bharat, Shashank Mohan, counsel in Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) said that internet shutdown has come to the limelight ever since Article 370 has been abrogated from Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are keeping track on internet shutdown since 2012. But in 2019, India faced a maximum number of internet shutdown," said Mohan. He said that since August this year, the number of internet shutdown has increased tremendously.

"And with the current upsurge against CAA, Government is doing internet shutdown almost on regular intervals," said Shashank.