Navigating Tensions and Stabilising Public Safety with Internet Shutdowns

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55763/ippr.2024.05.02.004

Abstract

Internet shutdowns have proliferated in the last few years in India owing to the government’s effort to control the spread of rumours and misinformation primarily in periods when there is a possibility of tension or social unrest. This paper examines how public emergency and public safety, which comprises the core of the law for implementing internet suspension, is not adequately defined and therefore, continues to be used indiscriminately. This article reviews the use of internet shutdown as a public safety measure.

Keywords:

Internet shutdowns, Public safety, Public Emergency, Digital Space, Conflict

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Bio

Ivy Dhar, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University

Ivy Dhar is an Assistant Professor (Development Studies) at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi.

References

Access Now. 2016. “Primer on internet shutdowns and the law.” Last modified November, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2024 from www.accessnow.org.

Bapat, Krishnesh. 2021. “[Revealed] Udaipur Internet Shutdown Orders: Cut, Copy, Paste!.” Internet Freedom Foundation. Last modified November 1, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2024 from www.internetfreedom.in.

Basuroy, Tanushree.2024. “Number of internet shutdowns in India from 2012 to 2024, by type.” Statista. Last modified February 22, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024 from www.statista.com.

Chakraborty, Debdutta. 2023. “India shut internet more times than any other country in 2023. Manipur blackout Northeast’s longest.” The Print. December 31, 2023. https://theprint.in/india/india-shut-internet-more-times-than-any-other-country-in-2023-manipur-blackout-northeasts-longest/1906283/

Chandran, Rina. 2023. “India's Internet Shutdowns Hurt Women More, Manipur Assaults Show.” The Wire. July 28, 2023. https://thewire.in/security/indias-internet-shutdowns-hurt-women-more-manipur-assaults-show.

Chatterjee, Siddhant. 2019. “Exploring Possible Solutions to Curb Internet Shutdowns in India.” The SSRN, Last modified November 7, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2024 from http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3644879.

Dahlgren, Peter. 2005. “The Internet, Public Spheres, and Political Communication: Dispersion and Deliberation.” Political Communication 22 (2): 147–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/10584600590933160.

Elliot, Vittoria. 2022. “Five Ways to Stay Online During a Government Internet Shutdown.” Global Investigative Journalism Network, May 11, 2022. https://gijn.org/stories/five-ways-to-stay-online-during-a-government-internet-shutdown-gijn/.

Friedman, Barry. 2021. “What is Public Safety?” Public Law Research Paper No. 21-14, NYU School of Law. Last modified September 19, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2024 from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3808187.

Gohdes, Anita R. 2015. “Pulling the Plug: Network Disruptions and Violence in Civil Conflict.” Journal of Peace Research 52 (3): 352–367.

Human Rights Watch. 2023. “No Internet Means No Work, No Pay, No Food.” Last modified June 14, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024 from www.hrw.org.

Jagga, Rakhi. 2024. “Internet ban in Punjab, Haryana deals a blow to students taking exams, other vital services.” The Indian Express, February 21, 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/farmers-protest-mobile-internet-ban-punjab-haryana-9172316/

Jayant, Pankaj. 2022. “Mapping the Rising Internet Shutdowns in India since 2016.” The Wire. October 09, 2022. https://thewire.in/government/mapping-the-rising-internet-shutdowns-in-india-since-2016.

Kantar-Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). 2022. “Internet in India 2022.” Last modified April, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from www.iamai.in.

Kumar, Nishant. 2015. “Internet Freedom, Social Media, and Internet Democracy: Prospects and Challenges.” The Indian Journal of Political Science 76(1): 135–146.

Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2023. “Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology: 37th Report.” Retrieved February 20, 2024 from https://loksabhadocs.nic.in.

Low, Setha and Smith, Neil. 2006. The Politics of Public Space. New York: Routledge.

Prabhakar, Vishvesh, Gupta Sanjeev and Mehrotra, Rajul. 2015. “How to transform public safety in India.” The Economic Times, July 27, 2015. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-to-transform-public-safety-in-india/articleshow.

Ricknell, Emma. 2020. “Freedom of Expression and Alternatives for Internet Governance: Prospects and Pitfalls.” Media and Communications 8 (4): 110–120.

Rydzak, Jan. 2019. “Of Blackouts and Bandhs: The Strategy and Structure of Disconnected Protest in India.” The SSRN, Last modified February 7, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2024 from SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3330413

Shah, Nishant. 2021. “(Dis)information Blackouts: Politics and Practices of Internet Shutdowns.” International Journal of Communication 15: 2693–2709.

Software Freedom Law Centre India (Slfc.in). 2024. “Government of India extends Internet Shutdown in Punjab.” Last modified February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024 from www. https://internetshutdowns.in.

Software Freedom Law Centre India (Slfc.in). 2024. “India’s Shutdown Numbers.” Retrieved April 09, 2024 from www. https://internetshutdowns.in.

Singh, Subham. 2023. “Manipur: Violence-hit State Tops Internet Shutdowns in India in 2023 with 83 days of Blackout.” India Today, July 25, 2023. https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/manipur-violence-hit-state-tops-internet-shutdowns-india-blackout.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). 2023. “Press Release No.66.” Last modified December, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024 from www.trai.gov.in

Published

2024-04-15