The Great J&K Firewall

For stewards and leaders of a democracy that believes in free speech, Indian governments have shown an alarming penchant for censorship and control. Social media has become the preferred mode of communication of many Indian politicians—particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who famously eschews press conferences—but central and state governments alike have betrayed great alacrity in shutting down internet services. According to internet watchdogs, India for the past two years has had the most shutdowns by any country. Of course, the overwhelming majority of these shutdowns have affected Jammu and Kashmir. Since the abrogation of Article 370, the ‘state’ has been encircled by yet another firewall. Over 60 days into the shutdown, Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik has argued that ordinary people, unlike terrorists, don’t need mobile phones and the internet.

60

days, as of October 3, that J&K has been without internet services

196

shutdowns around the world in 2018, 134 in India alone, says global watchdog Access Now; next highest was Pakistan with 12

180

internet shutdowns in J&K since 2012, 167 from 2015 to 2019; 55 shutdowns so far in 2019, 65 in all of 2018, says Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), India

133

days (July 8, 2016, to Nov. 19, 2016) that mobile internet services were blocked in Kashmir after militant Burhan Wani was killed by security forces

$3.04 BILLION

Cost to India of 16,315 hours (7,776 in J&K) of internet shutdowns (2012-2017), says 2018 report by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)

1,428

hours of mobile internet lost in 24 shutdowns in Kashmir in 2017 alone, says ICRIER report; economic cost: $223 million (over Rs 1,500 crore)

5.8 MILLION

internet subscribers in J&K in 2018, says telecom regulator TRAI; 4.55 million are broadband subscribers, up from 2.78 million in 2017