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> India leads total shutdowns globally. In 2021, the world’s largest democracy shut off its internet 106 times – more than the rest of the world combined. Harde

by wtmt 4y ago

> India leads total shutdowns globally. In 2021, the world’s largest democracy shut off its internet 106 times – more than the rest of the world combined. Hardest-hit was the conflict-ridden region of Jammu and Kashmir, which was subject to 85 shutdowns under the guise of containing separatist violence. The blackouts shut down Zoom classes for students, stopped doctors from communicating with their remote patients and crippled the banking system, causing mortgage holders to default on their loans. Apple crops rotted before they could be sold and businesses were paralysed. India was a leader in Internet shutdowns in the years before 2021 too. Don't for a moment assume that the hardest hit region of Jammu and Kashmir is the only one. Internet shutdowns are routinely used in most states whenever the state executive or law enforcement thinks there could be some trouble. Sadly, the Indian judiciary is more of an ally to the executive, and doesn't consider these "sledge hammer" approaches as questionable or challenge-worthy. Strict control over the Internet and Internet based companies (which would be almost all) are of prime importance to the majority lawmakers and to the executive. That theme, which goes hand in hand with surveillance, is a major thread across the country, and a major threat to the "of the people, for the people" slogan (these are not "by the people", many of whom are taught what to think and believe by...media owned/influenced by the majority parties).

webmobdev 4y ago
As an indian, I don't see anything wrong with my country having a kill switch for the internet because (1) India is a democracy (2) It is a foreign platform and (3) A kill switch for communication platforms is necessary to prevent rumour mongering or disrupt coordination during tense political situations like rioting (which is common in India). Note that this is not a new thing - every government also has a kill switch for various other communication platforms; for e.g. governments often do cut-off cell phone communications in a particular region during tense moments. J&K though is a special case in India where indian government has indeed often curtailed democratic rights for many decades (often overreaching itself while fighting terrorism there), and has been guilty of over abusing their powers there, sadly without much repercussion. That's because J&K is a disputed area between India, Pakistan and China - India has fought 3 wars with Pakistan over it, China occupies some area of it, and had recently invaded India and even annexed some more area (China taking "incremental and tactical actions" to press territorial claims with India: Pentagon - https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/china-taking-incremental-and-tactical-actions-to-press-territorial-claims-with-india-pentagon https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/china-taki... ). The indian judiciary thus does grant the government more leeway for non-violent tactics like cutting of communication or holding an important political person under house arrest. But for violent abuses of power, the Indian judiciary has not hesitated to stand up for the rights of the citizens and has even ordered arrest and prosecution of Army and police officials when necessary. Unfortunately, Narendra Modi, the current indian Prime Minister is inexperienced in statecraft, has also made more of a mess by unnecessarily changing the status quo of J&K, thus creating more unrest in the state thus necessitating the current situation there (India’s Supreme Court Orders a Review of Internet Shutdown in Kashmir. But For Now, It Continues - https://time.com/5762751/internet-kashmir-supreme-court/ https://time.com/5762751/internet-kashmir-supreme-court/ ). That said, I do believe more restrictions and judicial oversight is necessary before the government is allowed to use such powers to kill communication platforms. Especially since the current right-wing religious fundamentalist Modi / BJP government has indeed abused this power undemocratically many times to use it even against legitimate opposition and blunt their protest movement and criticism against it: - India farmers’ protests: internet shutdown highlights Modi’s record of stifling digital dissent: https://theconversation.com/india-farmers-protests-internet-shutdown-highlights-modis-record-of-stifling-digital-dissent-154287 https://theconversation.com/india-farmers-protests-internet-... - India muzzles citizenship law protests, detaining thousands and shutting down Internet in several cities: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-muzzles-citizenship-law-protests-shutting-down-internet-and-detaining-protesters/2019/12/19/d5bc4ea6-21a7-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-muzz... - Govt suspends Internet in eastern state over military recruitment protests: https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/govt-suspends-internet-in-eastern-state-over-military-recruitment-protests-338189-2022-06-18 https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/govt-suspen... - Modi govt’s response to farmer protests stirs fears of a pattern: NYT: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/foreign-media/modi-govts-response-to-farmer-protests-stirs-fears-of-a-pattern-nyt/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/foreign-media/modi...
- amtamt 4y ago
  Having a kill switch is not the issue,kill switch usage frequency is. We have a nuclear device... we carry out nuclear detonations every week... vs we would detonate one if someone uses nuke against us. I hope point is clear.
  - webmobdev 4y ago
    If I was not clear, I too said the same thing - kill switches with reasonable restrictions and judicial oversights are ok in a democracy, but abusing it is not (While my explanation of the over abuse in J&K may have sounded like a defence of the government, I assure you it is not. I was just stating the facts for those unaware of why the abuses are more there, i.e. because it is a disputed region prone to conflict. I have also listed examples of how my own government has definitely gone overboard and abused it against legitimate / non-violent opposition, which is totally unacceptable in a democracy.)
- FunnyBadger 4y ago
  Well this explains why so many Indian-ex-pat-led social media executives have no concerns about censorship or the US 1st amendment, even within the USA.
  - webmobdev 4y ago
    Isn't it more ridiculous to think that corporates will help you uphold your rights more than political parties? It doesn't matter if Google or Microsoft has an indian at its helm, what matters is that they too are beholden to their shareholders who only care about their profit, not you.
known 4y ago

by wtmt 4y ago

webmobdev 4y ago

As an indian, I don't see anything wrong with my country having a kill switch for the internet because (1) India is a democracy (2) It is a foreign platform and (3) A kill switch for communication platforms is necessary to prevent rumour mongering or disrupt coordination during tense political situations like rioting (which is common in India). Note that this is not a new thing - every government also has a kill switch for various other communication platforms; for e.g. governments often do cut-off cell phone communications in a particular region during tense moments. J&K though is a special case in India where indian government has indeed often curtailed democratic rights for many decades (often overreaching itself while fighting terrorism there), and has been guilty of over abusing their powers there, sadly without much repercussion. That's because J&K is a disputed area between India, Pakistan and China - India has fought 3 wars with Pakistan over it, China occupies some area of it, and had recently invaded India and even annexed some more area (China taking "incremental and tactical actions" to press territorial claims with India: Pentagon - https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/china-taking-incremental-and-tactical-actions-to-press-territorial-claims-with-india-pentagon https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/china-taki... ). The indian judiciary thus does grant the government more leeway for non-violent tactics like cutting of communication or holding an important political person under house arrest. But for violent abuses of power, the Indian judiciary has not hesitated to stand up for the rights of the citizens and has even ordered arrest and prosecution of Army and police officials when necessary. Unfortunately, Narendra Modi, the current indian Prime Minister is inexperienced in statecraft, has also made more of a mess by unnecessarily changing the status quo of J&K, thus creating more unrest in the state thus necessitating the current situation there (India’s Supreme Court Orders a Review of Internet Shutdown in Kashmir. But For Now, It Continues - https://time.com/5762751/internet-kashmir-supreme-court/ https://time.com/5762751/internet-kashmir-supreme-court/ ). That said, I do believe more restrictions and judicial oversight is necessary before the government is allowed to use such powers to kill communication platforms. Especially since the current right-wing religious fundamentalist Modi / BJP government has indeed abused this power undemocratically many times to use it even against legitimate opposition and blunt their protest movement and criticism against it: - India farmers’ protests: internet shutdown highlights Modi’s record of stifling digital dissent: https://theconversation.com/india-farmers-protests-internet-shutdown-highlights-modis-record-of-stifling-digital-dissent-154287 https://theconversation.com/india-farmers-protests-internet-... - India muzzles citizenship law protests, detaining thousands and shutting down Internet in several cities: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-muzzles-citizenship-law-protests-shutting-down-internet-and-detaining-protesters/2019/12/19/d5bc4ea6-21a7-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-muzz... - Govt suspends Internet in eastern state over military recruitment protests: https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/govt-suspends-internet-in-eastern-state-over-military-recruitment-protests-338189-2022-06-18 https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/govt-suspen... - Modi govt’s response to farmer protests stirs fears of a pattern: NYT: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/foreign-media/modi-govts-response-to-farmer-protests-stirs-fears-of-a-pattern-nyt/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/foreign-media/modi...

amtamt 4y ago
Having a kill switch is not the issue,kill switch usage frequency is. We have a nuclear device... we carry out nuclear detonations every week... vs we would detonate one if someone uses nuke against us. I hope point is clear.
- webmobdev 4y ago
  If I was not clear, I too said the same thing - kill switches with reasonable restrictions and judicial oversights are ok in a democracy, but abusing it is not (While my explanation of the over abuse in J&K may have sounded like a defence of the government, I assure you it is not. I was just stating the facts for those unaware of why the abuses are more there, i.e. because it is a disputed region prone to conflict. I have also listed examples of how my own government has definitely gone overboard and abused it against legitimate / non-violent opposition, which is totally unacceptable in a democracy.)
FunnyBadger 4y ago
Well this explains why so many Indian-ex-pat-led social media executives have no concerns about censorship or the US 1st amendment, even within the USA.
- webmobdev 4y ago
  Isn't it more ridiculous to think that corporates will help you uphold your rights more than political parties? It doesn't matter if Google or Microsoft has an indian at its helm, what matters is that they too are beholden to their shareholders who only care about their profit, not you.

known 4y ago