November 14, 2024

15 thoughts on “Legal Aspects of Internet Shutdown

  1. This article clearly gives the well picture of the controversy between the government needs and the people’s needs. It also contain the legal proofs for the step taking by the government .

  2. An instructive article indeed!!
    The article highlights how the judiciary has taken a stand on controversial question of internet shutdowns being a violation of article 19 (1)(a) and 19(1)(g) and made it clear that internet shutdowns are reasonable restrictions imposed under article 19(2) and 19(6) of the Constitution.

  3. Numerous articles examining sociological implications of internet shutdown have been published at various online platforms but a legal approach was missing. The article rightly highlights various questions underlying violation of fundamental rights. Efforts to examine laws beyond the Constitution of India is highly appreciated. The views are my personal opinion that are open to criticism.

  4. A very informative article and highlights the impact and legal aspects of the same.

  5. Wonderful Article!!
    The last part also talked about the COVID – 19 pandemic and how important the internet is during such a health crisis in India. Internet shutdowns have gradually become a popular component of the wider array of State responses like curfews, media clampdowns, and others. People mostly depend on the Internet to stay in touch with family and friends, create local communities of interest, report public information, and access and share knowledge. Thanks for such an informative article. Many Fundamentals are being violated by the State. Action must be taken!

  6. A very interesting and unique article. The governments of the worlds have time and again tried to suppress the word of the public by various forms, and ‘kill switch’ or ‘digital curfew’ is the latest and the easiest way to do it. The rules mentioned under the telegraph act seemed arbitrary in nature, curbing down citizen’s fundamental rights without any proper justification. the author has really done a commendable job on the article, mentioning all the relevant sections of laws.

  7. Internet shutdown should only be done when it is essentially needed. The article talks about how government is now using this tool for such unnecessary reasons. Thus, there should be a regulatory body incharge of reviewing the reason and time period for internet shutdown.

  8. Internet is a basic need of humans at this stage of society. Staving off internet indefinitely would be unconstitutional. This Article provides the procedure when a decision is made to Stop the facilities of internet in a particular state and limits of such order by the authorities which are secretary of home affairs at state and center level.

  9. India had the highest number of internet shutdowns in 2018. As held in the Anuradha Bhasin judgement, internet shutdown was to be used as a last resort for public safety but India has been using it various other reasons. Apart from hampering a person’s freedom of speech and expression, it also violates right to education and medical care under article 21.
    The need for a regulatory body is very important

  10. Rightly said. Internet Shutdown is being used as a kill switch to avoid small protests. Such restrictions should be made only in unavoidable circumstances and this requires some regulations as this is infringing rights of the people suffering from internet shutdowns every now and then.

  11. Very well written article. With a great power, comes a huge responsibility. But sometimes powers are misused according to one’s own needs. The power in the hands of government are of wider nature and these should only be used in a positive manner which benefits the society as a whole. The points raised by the author in this article shows that sometimes these powers are misused. Internet shutdown should only be done on account of “public safety” and “national/state level security”,and should not infringe the fundamental rights in any way. Just to shut people up, government is using their powers and that’s a grey area in our democratic country.

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