Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: Restricted Internet Access & Public Order)

Why in Broadcast?

Recently, Supreme Court refused to hear plea on internet shutdown in Manipur and asked the petitioners to approach the Manipur High Court.

An Internet shutdown happens when someone , usually a government , intentionally disrupts the Internet or mobile apps to control what people say online.

Governments justify Internet shutdowns for a variety of reasons, such as

Stopping people from sharing information or organizing protests, even when the demonstrations are peaceful.
It is done to curb the spread of misinformation and rumors that can lead to deteriorating law and order situations.
Shutting down the internet helps maintain peace among communities in times of crisis.

As more people use the Internet and social media, they are also increasingly enjoying the freedom and opportunity these provide to organize themselves and advocate for what they want.
In response, it seems governments are shutting down the net more often to stop this practice at enormous cost.

Economic Losses: Internet shutdowns can result in significant economic losses, especially for businesses that rely on internet connectivity for their operations.
Social Disruptions: The internet serves as a vital tool for communication, enabling people to connect, share information, and participate in social movements. Internet shutdowns disrupt these essential channels, hindering social interactions and impeding the free flow of ideas.
Political Consequences: Governments often employ internet shutdowns as a means to suppress dissent, control the dissemination of information, and limit political opposition.
Educational Setbacks: Internet shutdowns can disrupt educational activities, particularly for students who depend on online resources for learning and collaboration.
Health Implications: The internet plays a crucial role in accessing health information, telemedicine services, and online support groups.

In India, internet shutdown orders are governed by the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, which fall under the purview of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
These rules authorize senior bureaucrats from the Home Ministry at the central and state levels to order temporary shutdowns based on grounds of public emergency.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 enables website blocking in cases threatening national sovereignty, integrity, or defense.

In the Anuradha Bhasin vs. Union of India (2020) case, the SC declared indefinite suspension of internet services as illegal, stressing the importance of necessity & proportionality in issuing internet shutdown orders.
In response, the Union government made amendments to the 2017 Rules in November 2020, limiting internet suspension orders to a maximum of 15 days.