Internet Blackout

Internet blackouts mean shut out of messaging sites, forced off social media, deprived of news, information and make an unstable communication system. It is a common feature in the world among and increasingly common responses by the governments who fear their grip on power is slipping or flip a switch. Country like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Iran, China, Malaysia and many other countries experienced most serious internet shutdown ever.

Most of the shutdowns were imposed by governments which said they were trying to prevent security threats or came out with illogical defense. When people protest for their rights, to talk about their economical and social problems and when the authority has no words for those problems, then they come up with the plan by cutting out the information and communication with the outside world. The United Nation called the internet blackouts is a serious violation of fundamental rights. Because it has a bad impact with different groups very severely from student who doesn’t have access to their study online material to bank where people can’t cash out for emergency because of internet blackout. Also, at that time the government tried to make a one-way communication system by blocking the others information sources. Moreover, country like China and North-Korea make their own national internet for controlling over international app like Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, Microsoft etc. Those are also the violation of human rights.

We recently faced the internet shutdown. Our X-ministry enforced internet shutdown for the whole country for 5 days and mobile internet for 11 days (about 1 and a half weeks). By that our X-Government try to stop the protest for Kota reform. But this makes the nation united about our rights. Also, this time we are enforced by curfew. This time verbal communication improves so much for a person in society. We saw roadside cricket and football played by the young generation people. Also, this helps people to build awareness about the situation and reality by witnessing this with their eyes.

Practically internet blackout is a great disaster for both economically and socially. Because 90% of it goes through the internet nowadays. Almost every person's life depends on the internet. Rumors spread easily, and we can't verify the truth. An intentional internet sabotage also makes a clear prospective about the government failure.