About 60% of all the Internet shutdowns recorded the world over between 2016 and 2022 took place in India.

The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) keeps a count of Internet stoppages State-wise.

There was no instance of an Internet shutdown in Kerala. Elsewhere, except Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Sikkim, all the other States recorded at least one such instance, with Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh recording the highest number.

It is important to note that the Central government does not collate data on Internet shutdowns imposed by the State governments. In fact, the collection of centralized data was “strongly recommended” by the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, which presented its findings on “suspension of telecom/Internet services and its impact” in 2021.

“Internet shutdowns being used as a substitute for enforcing law and order.” In 2020, the Supreme Court held that Internet suspensions should “adhere to the principle of proportionality and must not extend beyond necessary duration.”

A 2018 paper published by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations estimated that India lost around $3 billion between 2012 and 2017 due to shutdowns. However, in a Lok Sabha reply in 2021, the government said that it had no mechanism to assess the socioeconomic impact of Internet shutdowns

Source: The Hindu