IPA Newspack
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets

IPA /

IPA Special

IPA Special

Internet Suspension For Quelling Protests Cost India $4.7 Billion

By Dr. Gyan Pathak

Modi government resorted to large scale shutdowns of internet connections to quell protests by people against its policies adopted between 2019 and 2021 is now well known, but what is little known is that the internet suspension was effected for 14,280 hours during this period which cost India about $4.7 billion, apart from human rights violations that the orders constituted due to which people suffered invaluable loss. The frequent internet suspensions have led to India even being referred to as the shutdown capital of the world. Only Myanmar and Nigeria did more economic damage with self-inflicted wounds which were to the tune of $2.8 billion and $1.5 billion respectively in 2021 while India lost $582.8 million.

Moreover, the government of India does not even maintain a database of instances of internet shutdowns, the “Input for OHCHR report on internet shutdowns and human rights” recently submitted by the Internet Freedom Foundation of India to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for human rights has mentioned. While mentioning this fact the report pointed out that the internet shutdowns were used by the Government of India to prevent individuals from collectivizing against decisions of the government as was evident when the internet was disrupted during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act or those against farm laws.

This is despite the fact that the government has not conducted any analysis on whether internet shutdowns improve law and order concerns. Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications have admitted to the Standing Committee of the Parliament on Communications and Information Technology that the Union Government has not even examined whether internet shutdowns improve law and order.

Modi government imposed more costly internet outages than almost any other nation, according to the Top VPN report. Some of the outages constituted election interference, while others violated people’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of the press. The biggest economic setback was experienced from throttling internet speed in Kashmir, which was restored after 18 months, during which education and business greatly suffered apart from the disruption due to COVID-19 crisis. Delhi suffered localized internet blackout in late January 2021 in response to the farmers’ protest against the Modi’s three controversial farm laws. It may also surprise one that Rajasthan’s internet was shut down in September 2021 to prevent cheating in examinations.

The Foundation has said in its report that access to the internet must be seen as a right rather than a service, especially in a developing country like India, with a digital population of 560 million, and where a 10 per cent increase in internet connectivity can result in a 3.3 per cent increase in per capita GDP. Despite this, internet connectivity is limited and internet shutdowns are common in India, and legal remedies often prove inadequate.

The Connectivity Tracker report published in January 2022 has been quoted by the report which had found that despite the low cost of data in India, about $0.68 per GB, in 10 out of 28 states and 2 out of 8 Union Territories less than 40 per cent of women regularly use the internet. Moreover, only 1 out of 3 people access the internet in rural areas, while in urban areas people have, on an average, more than one internet connection. It is despite introduction of National Digital Communications Policy, 2018, Universal Service Obligation Fund, Bharatnet project and National Broadband Mission, which clearly shows the dismal performance of the government on promotion of internet connectivity.

While discussing the impact and injury from the internet shutdowns, the report made assessments of impacts on economic, social and political activities in the country. It mentioned as per Top 10 VPN, the internet was shut down in India for 1,157 hours in 2021, which cost the economy $582.8 million, which included 317.5 hours of total internet blackout and 840 hours of bandwidth throttling.

In 2020, the internet was suspended for 8,927 hours, more than anywhere else in the world, costing the Indian economy $2.8 billion. In 2019, the internet was suspended in India for 4,196 hours, costing the Indian economy $1.3 billion. This amounts to 14,280 hours of internet suspensions over three years and represents a loss of nearly $4.7 billion.

On social impact of internet shutdown, the report says, is felt as punishment by individuals, when they are stopped from communicating, learning, or even working or doing business. Large number of students and journalists were unnecessarily subjected to such punishments. It has even political implications because it prevents all political activities by using internet.

In the context of year long communication shutdown in Jammu & Kashmir during 2020-21, the Supreme Court of India had held that internet shutdowns are a ‘drastic measure’ which may be imposed only if it is lawful, necessary and proportionate, and only after publishing internet suspension orders. Moreover, the SC has ruled that the aggrieved by such shutdowns may seek remedies under the laws. However, in practice, getting remedy is too difficult for citizens. IFF filed RTIs with 24 States and 8 Union Territories but did not even able to get copies of the internet shutdown orders.  (IPA Service)

IPA Special

Opposition Is On Backfoot Now In Offering Big Challenge To The BJP

July 4, 2022
IPA Special

Trinamool Congress Marginalises BJP In North Bengal Local Polls

July 4, 2022
IPA Special

BJP And Congress In A Bitter Battle In Madhya Pradesh Local Body Polls

July 4, 2022
Happening Now

Eknath Shinde declared as Sena legislative party leader

July 4, 2022
Happening Now

Pawar gives Shinde govt 6 months time before collapse

July 4, 2022
Happening Now

Modi’s Bhagyanagar name for Hyderabad sparks buzz

July 4, 2022
Happening Now

Stalin threatens to turn ‘dictator’ if party men don’t behave

July 4, 2022
Happening Now

Lashkar terrorist was Jammu BJP Morcha IT cell chief

July 4, 2022
IPA Special

BJP Leadership Is Under Pressure To Aggressively Pursue Hindutva Agenda

July 2, 2022
IPA Special

K Chandrasekhar Rao Is Strong Enough To Keep BJP Away From Telangana

July 2, 2022
IPA Special

Controversial Remarks Not Part Of Vacation Bench’s Order

July 2, 2022
IPA Special

Steep Decline In Foreign Remittances Impacts Kerala Economy

July 2, 2022
IPA Special

Supreme Court Misconstrued NGO’s Legitimate Activities As Against National Interests

July 2, 2022
IPA Special

World Cup Balance Sheet Presents A Mixed Bag For Qatar

July 2, 2022
Happening Now

Shiv Sena MPs undecided on joining Shinde camp

July 2, 2022
Politics

BJP picks up NCP leader’s son-in-law for Speaker

July 2, 2022
Politics

Modi called Fadnavis to ask him to accept deputy CM post

July 2, 2022
Politics

Uttarakhand CM says uniform civil code soon

July 2, 2022
Happening Now

Man arrested for social media post against PM Modi

July 2, 2022
IPA Special

BJP Juggernaut Is On The Roll; Where Is The Congress?

July 1, 2022

An appeal

The legacy of IPA, founded by Nikhil Chakravartty, the doyen of journalism in India, to keep the flag of independent media flying high, is facing the threat of extinction due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. Only an emergency funding can avert such an eventuality. We appeal to all those who believe in the freedom of expression to contribute to this noble cause.
Click here to learn more

Share

Reply

  • 0
More on IPA

Opposition Is On Backfoot Now In Offering Big Challenge To The BJP

July 4, 2022 12:51 pm | IPA Staff

By Amulya Ganguli The Samajwadi Party’s defeat in two Uttar Pradesh by-elections, the Trinamool Congress’s miserable performance in the Tripura polls and the BJP’s strangulation...

IPA Special

Trinamool Congress Marginalises BJP In North Bengal Local Polls

July 4, 2022 12:49 pm | IPA Staff

By Ashis Biswas For the ruling Trinamool Congress(TMC) in West Bengal and its bigger ally in the Northern districts Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), the...

IPA Special

BJP And Congress In A Bitter Battle In Madhya Pradesh Local Body Polls

July 4, 2022 12:47 pm | IPA Staff

By L S Herdenia BHOPAL: On July 6, crores of Madhya Pradesh voters will elect their local government bodies. Originally elections were to be held...

IPA Special

BJP Leadership Is Under Pressure To Aggressively Pursue Hindutva Agenda

July 2, 2022 2:53 pm | IPA Staff

By Harihar Swarup Over the past decades, the Hindu-Muslim axis has once again emerged as the Central pole of Indian politics. But now, a period...

IPA Special

Opposition Is On Backfoot Now In Offering Big Challenge To The BJP

in IPA Special
Jul 4, 2022   ·  

Trinamool Congress Marginalises BJP In North Bengal Local Polls

in IPA Special
Jul 4, 2022   ·  

BJP And Congress In A Bitter Battle In Madhya Pradesh Local Body Polls

in IPA Special
Jul 4, 2022   ·  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow us on
Up Next: Massive Rush Of Political Opportunists To Trinamool Makes Mamata’s Task Difficult
©2020 -2021 India Press Agency, All Rights Reserved
Newspack by India Press Agency
Posting....
logo
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets