In today’s world, the internet has become the basic necessities for the citizens to gain access to the latest information. The repressive regimes across the world have always tried to keep people out of the reach of internet to keep them in dark about the happenings. Country like North Korea, China, etc comes to our mind in this regard. But unfortunately liberal democratic country like India also seems to be following the similar path of regressive regime when it is matter of banning internet. As the violent protest against citizenship amendment act (CAA) broke out the government imposed ban on the use of internet in several parts of country including in whole of Assam. These bans are yet to be fully restored. In Kashmir valley the internet shutdown has entered 136th day on Wednesday and is now the longest ever imposed in a democracy, according to Access Now, an international advocacy group that tracks Internet suspensions.
Only the authoritarian regimes such as China and Myanmar have cut off the Internet for longer. The data prepared by website slfc.in and internetshutdowns.com show a total of 357 instances of Internet shutdowns in India since 2014. These are staggering number for a democratic country like India. Strangely a Chinese news website even praised the internet ban ordered in multiple Indian states to quell protests against the citizenship law. China – whom the US had in March slammed for human rights violations on Muslim minorities – seems to be drawing inspiration from India’s tactic of digital isolation. The tactic of blocking the internet is to negate dissent being expressed by the citizen against the wrong policies of the government. Even in Arunachal Pradesh during the anti-PRC agitation, the government shutdown internet for many days. This kind of tactic of denying access to the information is against the spirit of democracy. The government is pushing country to era of darkness by constantly shutting down the internet.