Instances of internet shutdowns have increased exponentially since 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first term began. The government shut down the internet 109 times in 2019 as compared to just 6 times in 2014, according to Internet Shutdown Tracker, a portal which tracks such incidents across the country. Most of these shutdowns have happened in Jammu & Kashmir, where the information blackout has now entered its fifth month — the longest recorded internet shutdown for a democracy globally. COAI has also informally conveyed its reservations regarding a prolonged internet shutdown in Kashmir to the DoT, Mathews said. But Mathews says that the effect of internet shutdowns could be more profound on common people.

Source: Huffington Post January 01, 2020 03:56 UTC