[kictanet] Fwd: [Internet Policy] SFLC.in launches information portal, 'internetshutdowns.in'

[Barrack Otieno]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Hill <rhill at hill-a.ch>
Date: Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 9:16 PM
Subject: [Internet Policy] SFLC.in launches information portal,
'internetshutdowns.in'
To: "internetpolicy at elists.isoc.org" <InternetPolicy at elists.isoc.org>


FYI

-----Original Message-----
From: Forum [mailto:forum-bounces at justnetcoalition.org] On Behalf Of
Mishi Choudhary
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2017 19:06
To: Forum at Justnetcoalition. Org
Subject: [JNC - Forum] SFLC.in launches information portal,
'internetshutdowns.in'




Dear All,

SFLC.in launched 'http://www.internetshutdowns.in
<http://internetshutdowns.in/>', a new portal, that includes an
interactive map with detailed records of instances,where blanket bans
on internet services were imposed in India. Till date, our data
reflects 62 incidents of Internet shutdowns across various regions in
12 states, with 30 being reported in 2016 itself, and 4 instances in
the first month of 2017. It also revealed that the number of shutdowns
increased more than two fold from 14 in 2015 to 30 in 2016.

Mishi Choudhary, President and Legal Director at SFLC.in said, "There
is a global consensus that access to Internet is a human right, in a
digital and connected world. Yet, many countries block Internet
services as responses to conflict situations, or even for trivial
reasons such as to prevent cheating during examinations.
Unfortunately, these shutdowns not only imperil civil liberties, but
also grievously hurt the economy, as a recent report by the US policy
think-tank Brookings Institution showed. The shutdowns in 2015-16 cost
Indian businesses an estimated amount of $968 million (Rs 6,485
crore). As the pace of shutdowns increases, the costs will mount,
particularly given the new emphasis on transactions by Internet
payment systems linked to Aadhaar. Shutdowns are a very imprecise
means of achieving any social end, imposing immense collateral damage.
In democracies, essential social facilities should not be turned off
by the State, which acts in the peoples' interests.
The dependence on mobile Internet services for public safety and
order, education, business, and family life is a fact of our
existence. It should not be intentionally broken by government,
pursuing one form of 'law and order' at the expense of all other
social functioning."

"Internet shutdowns are a global, not merely an Indian problem," said
Ms Choudhary. "SFLC.in has been working with Access Now on its global
campaign to study and reverse the adoption of shutdown policies around
the world. We acknowledge their assistance and leadership in this
area."

This resource portal also provides users with the option to report an
Internet shutdown in their vicinity to keep the shutdown tracker up to
date with disruptions SFLC.in has recently written to the Additional
Secretary of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Dr.
Ajay Kumar requesting him to take requisite action to ensure that
stable and reliable Internet services are assured to citizens,
especially at a time when the Digital India programme is encouraging
e-governance initiatives and the Government is advocating for
transactions through cashless modes.

Per SFLC.in's record, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has experienced
highest number of shutdowns (27 since 2012). Out of the total 62
shutdowns recorded since 2012, 44 were targeted at mobile Internet
services, 8 targeted both, fixed-line and mobile Internet services,
while no conclusive information was available for 10 incidents and no
shutdowns targeting fixed-line services alone were recorded during
their period of study.

###

About SFLC.in:

SFLC.IN is a donor supported legal services organisation that brings
together lawyers, policy analysts, technologists, and students to
protect freedom in the digital world. SFLC.IN promotes innovation and
open access to knowledge by helping developers make great Free and
Open Source Software, protect privacy and civil liberties for citizens
in the digital world by educating and providing free legal advice and
help policy makers make informed and just decisions with the use and
adoption of technology. You can support
<https://www.instamojo.com/@SFLCin> their work by making
tax-deductible donations and providing feedback.

*Software Freedom Law Centre*

*K-9, second floor, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi, India*

*www.sflc.in  *

*email: mail at sflc.in *

*Ph: 011-43587126*


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Barrack O. Otieno
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