ETV Bharat / bharat

Internet shutdown, digital rights and national security

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Published : Dec 28, 2019, 8:35 PM IST

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.

Internet shutdown, digital rights and national security

Internet shutdown, digital rights and national security

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.

Internet shutdown, digital rights and national security

"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.

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.

Internet shutdown, digital rights and national security

"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.

Intro:New Delhi: Internet shutdown in India has of late generated a huge controversy with reports suggesting that the country losses crores of rupees with this kind of shutdown.

Body:ETV Bharat tried to find out the real impact of internet shutdown.

Although, there are a section of people who supported the internet shutdown carried out by the law enforcing agencies suggesting that it's necessary to maintain country's security, there are a section who believe that internet shutdown is not at all 'logical.'

Telecom operators, businessmen, are the worst sufferer of internet shutdown.

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.

In the recent times, India has witnessed the largest number of internet shutdown. This year till date, there were 105 instances of internet shutdown acriss the country where as in 2018, India witnessed 134 instances of internet shutdown, said reports compiled by the internetshutdowns.in, a website that tracks shutdown in India. This website is being operated by the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC).

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

He said that Government does not have any other option except to shutdown the internet so that violence could be stopped.

Bhattacharjee, however, suggested that the government possible stop a few social media avenues which incite violence.

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

"No doubt business face the worse affect. All kind of business whether it is through Paytm transaction or anything, it gets affected by internet shutdown. But for national security it is necessary," said Rakesh Gupta, a Delihites.

Conclusion:ETV Bharat tried to talk to businessman at Delhi's Jama Masjid area, which has faced internet shutdown recently.

"Businessmen are the worst affected. During the shutdown everything get stocked. Even five hours of shutdown is very pathetic," said Arshad Ali Fehmi, a hoteiler.

Fehmi runs cybercafe and hotel business. "Internet should be for the betterment of the people. Impact of internet shutdown is really worrying. With this shutdown lots of business gets affected," said Fehmi.

Talking to ETV Bharat correspondent, Shashank Mohan, counsel in 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 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, Governmnet is doing internet shutdown almost on regular intervals," said Shashank.

People running restaurants, students doing correspondce classes are also the worst sufferer of the internet shutdown.

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