Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Blunt weapon: On Internet shutdowns

Blunt weapon: On Internet shutdowns

India should end Net access curbs, especially when imposed without good reason

The number of Internet shutdowns in India was slightly lower in 2024 than in 2023, according to the Software Freedom Law Center (SLFC), India’s annual report. A separate report by the web rights advocacy (वकालत, समर्थन), Access Now, shows that India continues to lead globally in the number of government-ordered Internet shutdowns. The Union government has maintained that mobile Internet shutdown is an indispensable (अपरिहार्य, अनिवार्य) instrument in the toolkit to control law and order situations. Most of the Internet use in India is mobile. A closer examination of the shutdowns imposed even over the last year reveals (प्रकट करना, खुलासा करना) some disturbing data: 41 of the 84 shutdowns in India in 2024 were imposed during protests, compared to the 23 that were imposed for communal clashes. Five were even issued for cheating during examinations. In situations on the brink (किनारा, संकट की स्थिति) of violence where rapidly spreading disinformation may swerve (To change direction suddenly) out of control of the authorities, there may be a case for considering restrictions on communications. But no shutdown is without a cost — the delayed information regarding violence can also impede (बाधा डालना, अवरुद्ध करना) fast response. The Supreme Court of India recognised this when it ruled, in Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India, that each shutdown must meet the tests of necessity and proportionality. Internet shutdown impedes people’s livelihoods, access to medical care and education. It is a blunt (Not sharp; direct and outspoken in speech) weapon and the least the government could do is to measure its impact and use it sparingly. The government has been urged on preparing such an assessment (मूल्यांकन, आकलन) for years, but no headway has been made here.

Even for those in favour of retaining shutdowns as a tool in the repertory (संग्रह, भंडार, प्रदर्शनों की सूची) of emergency policing, the process being followed is cause for alarm. Many a time, as Access Now and SFLC report, there is no valid order uploaded on government websites detailing the duration and the causes in detail, as required by the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024 and its preceding rules of 2017. Ideally, every shutdown should be followed by a sombre (उदास, निराशाजनक) examination of whether it was necessary and what its deployment (तैनाती, प्रेषण) cost was. The ideal number of Internet shutdowns in any country is zero. It is especially troubling that 296 of them were imposed on millions around the world last year. India’s case shows that there is an urgent need for circumspection (सावधानी, सतर्कता) and restraint. The Internet shutdowns index is, after all, one of the indices in which India should not aspire to lead.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Advocacy (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - वकालत, समर्थन
English Meaning - The act of supporting or arguing for a cause or policy.

2.Indispensable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अपरिहार्य, अनिवार्य
English Meaning - Absolutely necessary or essential.

3.Reveal (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रकट करना, खुलासा करना
English Meaning - To make known or show something that was hidden.

4.Brink (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - किनारा, संकट की स्थिति
English Meaning - The edge of something, especially a dangerous or important situation.

5.Impede (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - बाधा डालना, अवरुद्ध करना
English Meaning - To slow down or prevent progress.

6.Assessment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - मूल्यांकन, आकलन
English Meaning - The process of evaluating or estimating something.

7.Repertory (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - संग्रह, भंडार, प्रदर्शनों की सूची
English Meaning - A collection of works or skills that someone can perform or use.

8.Sombre (Adjective

Hindi Meaning - उदास, निराशाजनक
English Meaning - Dark or dull in tone; serious or gloomy.

9.Deployment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - तैनाती, प्रेषण
English Meaning - The action of moving troops or equipment into position for military action.

10.Circumspection (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - सावधानी, सतर्कता
English Meaning - The quality of being careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.

11.Blunt (Adjective)

English Meaning - Not sharp; direct and outspoken in speech.

12.Swerve (Verb)

English Meaning - To change direction suddenly.