Internet shutdown in India: India is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to internet shutdowns. Global internet outage watchdog Nettles said in its report that internet outages cost the country about $1.9 billion in the first six months of the year. The Internet Society, a global non-profit organization, said in its ‘Nettles’ report that the ‘lockdown’ has cost about $118 million in foreign investment and about 21,000 job losses.
Why is the internet off?
Internet is closed to restore law and order in the country. In the first half of 2023, the Indian economy suffered a loss of $1.9 billion due to internet shutdowns. This information has been given in a recently published report. Recently, the administration in Punjab and Manipur shut down the internet to ‘maintain law and order’. “Governments often misconceive that shutting down the Internet will reduce unrest, stop the spread of confusion, or reduce the risk of harm from cyber security threats,” the report said. But the ‘lockdown’ has had a very bad impact on economic activity.
What are the disadvantages of internet shutdown?
The ‘Nettles’ report said that due to frequent internet shutdowns to create law and order in India, its risk has increased to 16 percent so far this year, making India one of the most vulnerable countries in the world this year. According to the report, internet shutdowns lead to disruptions in e-commerce, resulting in losses due to immediacy of transactions, increased unemployment, disrupted business-to-customer interactions, and financial and debt-related problems for companies. The report clarified that it was against ‘bandi’ and urged governments to refrain from implementing it, which affects the country’s economy, society and internet infrastructure. (including language input)
