India topped the list of global internet shutdowns for the sixth year in a row. India’s democratic reputation has been severely affected by the massive internet shutdown by the Modi government.
According to the report, a total of 283 internet shutdowns were approved globally. Internet was shut down 17 times during 2023 in India’s illegal Jammu and Kashmir. India’s democratic reputation has been severely affected by the massive internet shutdown by the Modi government.
The report added that the Modi government is unjustifiably restricting the right to freedom of expression while the increasing pace of internet shutdowns in India is stifling the voices of basic human rights.
Internet shutdowns in India in 2023 not only spread geographically but also persisted for a long time.
The proportion of shutdowns lasting five days or more increased from 15 percent in 2022 to more than 41 percent in 2023.
Between January and October 2023, the BJP government issued orders to block 7,502 URLs.
Around 3.2 million people were affected by the 212-day statewide internet blackout in Manipur, which basically affected all mobile networks. Around 27 million people were affected due to continuous internet outages in Haryana Punjab as well. Prolonged internet shutdowns caused unemployment among the Indian public and adversely affected the country’s investment climate.
According to the report, the shutdown mainly targeted mobile networks, affecting around 96 percent of Indians, while the internet outage was like a complete blackout, severely affecting daily activities, communication and access to information. The shutdown disproportionately affected marginalized communities, hindering their access to new income streams and opportunities.
