An Internet ban will not restore peace in Manipur
Introduction:
- Manipur has experienced internal turmoil and interethnic warfare for the past 2.5 months, and as Indian citizens, we have failed to hold our institutions responsible for defending the fundamental rights of Manipuris. A substantial percentage of the Indian population is unaware of the severity of the slaughter in Manipur as a result of internet disruptions and media censorship.
Internet service interruptions in India:
- In 2016, India was responsible for over 58% of all shutdowns listed in the Shutdown Tracker Optimisation Project (STOP) database.
- India also triumphed over Ukraine, this year’s runner-up. The only other G20 country to have shut down the internet more than twice is India.
- Data show that in 2022, India implemented at least 84 shutdowns, more than any other country.
The prevention of Internet outages:
- Internet shutdown orders are subject to the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, which are governed by the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
- The 2017 Rules give senior Home Ministry officials the authority to order shutdowns at the central and state levels. Additionally, they permit the temporary suspension of telecom operations in a territory in the event of a public emergency.
- The national government is given the power to licence and control a range of telecom services, including internet services, by the 1885 Act.
- It authorises the use of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to continue the communications blockade, which has been a growing trend.
- Section 144 gives a magistrate the power to order a general closure of the area if they have reason to believe there will be violence there.
Opposition to the shutdown of the internet:
- The travel restrictions and internet outage have had a profound impact on the lives of millions of individuals.
- It has an impact on everything, including business tax returns and college admissions.
- The lack of internet has also negatively impacted businesses.
- According to ICRIER, the Indian economy lost $3.04 billion as a result of the absence of internet connectivity.
- According to the Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI), each of the 22 circles in which mobile carriers operate in the country suffers a daily loss of $8 million.
Various Techniques for Turning Off the Internet:
- Domain Name System (DNS) tampering: By tampering with the DNS, authorities can reroute or limit access to specific websites or services. Changes to DNS records, redirecting DNS requests to different IP addresses, or outright blocking access to particular DNS servers can all be used to achieve this.
- The goal of IP blocking is to prevent access to specific IP addresses. By maintaining a blacklist of IP addresses associated with particular websites, platforms, or services, authorities can direct network infrastructure to deny access to such addresses.
- URL filtering is the process of selectively blocking or allowing access to specific URLs (web addresses). Authorities may assess requested URLs using firewalls or filtering systems before granting or denying access in accordance with predetermined norms.
- Governments can monitor and forbid specific words, phrases, or pieces of content that they deem to be sensitive or threatening using sophisticated filtering technologies.
- Internet throttling or slowing is the deliberate slowing down of internet speeds to the point where some websites or services become inaccessible or difficult to use.
Internet outages’ effects:
- India lost $ 184.3 million in 2022, according to data from the global tracker Top10VPN.
- A breakdown in communication.
- Constraints on education and research.
- A barrier to receiving medical treatment.
- Influence on fundamental rights.
- The scope of on-the-ground reporting could be constrained by an internet outage, and this could lead to underreporting of local issues.
- Interferes with politics’ transparency.
Conclusion:
- When access to the Internet is restricted, fake news increases rather than diminishes.
- The video clip is a pivotal moment in Manipur’s national awakening, one that must be achieved without hurting the reputations and social standing of people who have endured sexual assault and intergroup hostility.
- In order to hold the State and federal governments responsible for taking measures to achieve truth, justice, and reconciliation, information exchanges are also necessary.
