Data | India leads in Internet shutdowns, but lacks tool to assess impact Premium

Over the past five years, India has recorded the highest number of shutdowns. There is a significant gap between India and the country ranked second

Earlier this month, the Punjab government suspended mobile Internet and SMS services in the State for more than four days as it launched an operation to arrest pro-Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh. It said that this was “in the interest of public safety, to prevent incitement to violence and to prevent disturbance of peace and public order.”

The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC), which keeps a count of Internet stoppages State-wise, has recorded eight such shutdowns in Punjab.  Map 1 shows the instances of Internet shutdowns, State-wise, recorded between 2012 and March 2023, according to the SFLC’s data. Put together, the southern States recorded only six such shutdowns in this period. 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.

Map 1 

The map shows the State-wise instances of Internet shutdowns recorded between 2012 and March 2023, according to SFLC

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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 centralised 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. The Committee wanted the reasons, duration, and decision of the competent authority and of the review committees to be noted for every Internet shutdown, and for the information to be made public. It came down heavily on “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.” When the Committee questioned the Department of Telecommunication and the Home Ministry on the test of proportionality and the procedure for lifting a shutdown, it found their replies to be “vague and lacking clarity.”

The issue is of great significance to India as 60% of all the Internet shutdowns recorded between 2016 and 2022 worldwide took place in India, according to Access Now, a non-profit that defends digital rights.  Chart 2 shows the number of Internet shutdowns recorded by Access Now, in India and globally. India’s share ranged between 40% and 70%.