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If you’re someone outside India, please write to your representatives (or organize something) on matters like Internet access being cut off. We live in an age w

by wtmt 6y ago

If you’re someone outside India, please write to your representatives (or organize something) on matters like Internet access being cut off. We live in an age where this can be a matter of life and death. It is standard practice in India to cut off Internet access in places where there are riots or riots expected to happen or for some nebulous “national security” concern. In fact, India tops the list of countries with the most Internet shutdowns in the last few years (you can check this out online). In one state (where wired broadband penetration is quite low), mobile Internet access was disabled for several months even during the pandemic! The government and its law enforcement agencies do not know of other ways to handle these and resort to more of a “control and crush” mode. Maybe certain circumstances lead to certain decisions. What’s more shocking is that there’s no transparency on why access is blocked, who got it done, when the block will be lifted (and for what reasons). A democracy cannot thrive when the ruling powers along with law enforcement hold everything as a secret and don’t appreciate questions from the citizens. It’s sad to see India becoming more closed and authoritarian. Internet Freedom Foundation (https://internetfreedom.in https://internetfreedom.in) fights for digital rights in India. Follow and support it.

bythckr 6y ago
You missed out to mention the fact that the protesters first destroyed the cell towers and stole the generators and are now complaining about the internet being cut. No cell tower == no cell service == no internet.
- flik 6y ago
  You missed to mention towers destroyed is only of Jio (primary beneficiary of these laws is parent company Reliance)
  - bythckr 6y ago
    You know very well that not all companies have their own tower. The towers are shared.
    - srean 6y ago
      I don't think you are being honest in intent. Yes some towers are shared, but that would be irrelevant if the targets of vandalism weren't. No other carrier other than Jio and Reliance have made a large noise about damages to their infrastructure. This makes me believe that the other carriers were not affected. In any case the farmer protests have distanced themselves from such acts of vandalism and openly criticized them.
    - pankajdoharey 6y ago
      Nope Reliance has dedicated towers they dont share towers.
- rdedev 6y ago
  You missed out to mention that the cell towers were destroyed in punjab last month. I don't know what this has to do with internet being shut off in delhi https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/farmers-protest-telecom-towers-jio-damaged-punjab-1753960-2020-12-28 https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/farmers-protest-teleco...
- davchana 6y ago
  You failed (conveniently or not) to mention that that cell tower damage was in Punjab, about 350 kilometers away from the current protest site. Nobody stole the generators, but yes, the wires were cut. > No cell tower == no cell service == no internet. Are you implying that this internet shutdown in Delhi protest area has nothing to do with Government Orders?
  - bythckr 6y ago
    No, first the towers in Punjab were attacked and when the company refused to replace the tower and cut service. The towers in Delhi was also attacked as protest. Jio is demanding compensation to replace the towers. It's no cheap to replace a tower and someone has to pay up. The Govt has declined to pay for the tower. The protestors have blamed it on some rouge elements that infiltrated the protest. Some towers were managed by ZTE or some related Chinese entity that is also stuck in a limbo due to the Chinese ban and now they are seeking compensation for damaged towers as a way to recoupe their investments. Which is another reason why Govt wants to break this trend of paying for towers damaged by the protesters. Ofcourse, none of this news can be authenticated. There are also claims that cell service was blocked in Delhi for the protestors as retaliation for destroying the towers in Punjab by the protestors. As the towers damaged in Delhi seems to collateral to the protest commotions rather than targeted attacks and less in numbers.
    - davchana 6y ago
      Would love to see a news source about tower damage in Delhi. Even then, there are Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone (?) & some others too. Not every tower is shared. & private property damaged by any mob is I think never paid by government (that would take like million years). Most of this is insured. I still believe that this was just a blackout ordered by Government. Same way it has ordered porn sites ban, & many other blackouts. I remember in 2018 my district in Punjab was blacked out of any network for 3 days, & when we drove across Satluj to Ludhiana, all networks were fine.
ngc248 6y ago
The current thing happening delhi is similar to the Occupy Capitol a few weeks ago. Of course this violence needs to be stopped, I mean it's the capital for gods sake. India is not losing its freedom, but with the amount of population and rumour mongering on whatsapp/social media tamping down on the internet sometimes is necessary. Earlier before data become ubqiquitous, they used to clamp down on SMS.
- ugexe 6y ago
  Why do you think rumor mongering is a valid reason for a country to disable people’s internet?
  - sbmthakur 6y ago
    That rumor mongering is amplified by Social media and often leads to violence. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_WhatsApp_lynchings https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_WhatsApp_lynchings https://www.wired.com/story/how-whatsapp-fuels-fake-news-and-violence-in-india/ https://www.wired.com/story/how-whatsapp-fuels-fake-news-and... I do not like shutting of Internet in any area but I am not the one responsible for maintaining law and order. Additionally, in the age of e2e apps, it becomes quite difficult to find the real perpetrators.
- boring_baduku 6y ago
  I completely agree with you. Some of us who are not in agreement with the parent comment are being downvoted. HN is a propaganda machine now. It's not a platform for debate anymore.
- davchana 6y ago
  Capitol Hill, a leader did a conference, & then followers had intentions to change the result of election (rightly or not). Delhi Protest, nobody was even talking about any election results, there was no elections, there was no intentions or talks about changing the power to different hands/party/leader. Only Extremist Hindus are not losing any freedom. All Other religions, castes, minorities, poor people are under constant attack in this BJP Rule, be it Beef Lynching, Cow Transporter Lynching, Valentine Beatings, CAA, NRC, JNU, Kashmir & many others.
codecrusade 6y ago
Fake news being spread on India by Pakistani Agents.

by wtmt 6y ago

bythckr 6y ago

You missed out to mention the fact that the protesters first destroyed the cell towers and stole the generators and are now complaining about the internet being cut. No cell tower == no cell service == no internet.

flik 6y ago
You missed to mention towers destroyed is only of Jio (primary beneficiary of these laws is parent company Reliance)
- bythckr 6y ago
  You know very well that not all companies have their own tower. The towers are shared.
  - srean 6y ago
    I don't think you are being honest in intent. Yes some towers are shared, but that would be irrelevant if the targets of vandalism weren't. No other carrier other than Jio and Reliance have made a large noise about damages to their infrastructure. This makes me believe that the other carriers were not affected. In any case the farmer protests have distanced themselves from such acts of vandalism and openly criticized them.
  - pankajdoharey 6y ago
    Nope Reliance has dedicated towers they dont share towers.
rdedev 6y ago
You missed out to mention that the cell towers were destroyed in punjab last month. I don't know what this has to do with internet being shut off in delhi https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/farmers-protest-telecom-towers-jio-damaged-punjab-1753960-2020-12-28 https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/farmers-protest-teleco...
davchana 6y ago
You failed (conveniently or not) to mention that that cell tower damage was in Punjab, about 350 kilometers away from the current protest site. Nobody stole the generators, but yes, the wires were cut. > No cell tower == no cell service == no internet. Are you implying that this internet shutdown in Delhi protest area has nothing to do with Government Orders?
- bythckr 6y ago
  No, first the towers in Punjab were attacked and when the company refused to replace the tower and cut service. The towers in Delhi was also attacked as protest. Jio is demanding compensation to replace the towers. It's no cheap to replace a tower and someone has to pay up. The Govt has declined to pay for the tower. The protestors have blamed it on some rouge elements that infiltrated the protest. Some towers were managed by ZTE or some related Chinese entity that is also stuck in a limbo due to the Chinese ban and now they are seeking compensation for damaged towers as a way to recoupe their investments. Which is another reason why Govt wants to break this trend of paying for towers damaged by the protesters. Ofcourse, none of this news can be authenticated. There are also claims that cell service was blocked in Delhi for the protestors as retaliation for destroying the towers in Punjab by the protestors. As the towers damaged in Delhi seems to collateral to the protest commotions rather than targeted attacks and less in numbers.
  - davchana 6y ago
    Would love to see a news source about tower damage in Delhi. Even then, there are Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone (?) & some others too. Not every tower is shared. & private property damaged by any mob is I think never paid by government (that would take like million years). Most of this is insured. I still believe that this was just a blackout ordered by Government. Same way it has ordered porn sites ban, & many other blackouts. I remember in 2018 my district in Punjab was blacked out of any network for 3 days, & when we drove across Satluj to Ludhiana, all networks were fine.

ngc248 6y ago

The current thing happening delhi is similar to the Occupy Capitol a few weeks ago. Of course this violence needs to be stopped, I mean it's the capital for gods sake. India is not losing its freedom, but with the amount of population and rumour mongering on whatsapp/social media tamping down on the internet sometimes is necessary. Earlier before data become ubqiquitous, they used to clamp down on SMS.

ugexe 6y ago
Why do you think rumor mongering is a valid reason for a country to disable people’s internet?
- sbmthakur 6y ago
  That rumor mongering is amplified by Social media and often leads to violence. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_WhatsApp_lynchings https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_WhatsApp_lynchings https://www.wired.com/story/how-whatsapp-fuels-fake-news-and-violence-in-india/ https://www.wired.com/story/how-whatsapp-fuels-fake-news-and... I do not like shutting of Internet in any area but I am not the one responsible for maintaining law and order. Additionally, in the age of e2e apps, it becomes quite difficult to find the real perpetrators.
boring_baduku 6y ago
I completely agree with you. Some of us who are not in agreement with the parent comment are being downvoted. HN is a propaganda machine now. It's not a platform for debate anymore.
davchana 6y ago
Capitol Hill, a leader did a conference, & then followers had intentions to change the result of election (rightly or not). Delhi Protest, nobody was even talking about any election results, there was no elections, there was no intentions or talks about changing the power to different hands/party/leader. Only Extremist Hindus are not losing any freedom. All Other religions, castes, minorities, poor people are under constant attack in this BJP Rule, be it Beef Lynching, Cow Transporter Lynching, Valentine Beatings, CAA, NRC, JNU, Kashmir & many others.

codecrusade 6y ago

Fake news being spread on India by Pakistani Agents.