Internet Shutdown Tracker

We are tracking instances of Internet shutdowns in India to draw attention to the troubling trend of disconnecting access to Internet services.

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Living in Digital Darkness - A Handbook on Internet Shutdowns in India

A report by SFLC.in on the state of Internet shutdowns in India, analyzing its emergence as a public policy issue, governing laws, recorded instances, and impact among others.

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Longest Shutdowns

133 Days

8th July 2016 - 19th November 2016

Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir

Longest Internet Shutdown was observed in Kashmir located in state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 due to the agitation caused by the killing of Burhan Wani on 8th July 2016. Mobile Internet Services were suspended for 133 days. While mobile Internet services on postpaid numbers was restored on November 19, 2016. Mobile Internet services for prepaid users were resumed in January 2017, this implies they faced almost a six month Internet shutdown.

100 Days

from 18th June 2017 to 25th September 2017

Darjeeling, West Bengal

Second longest Internet services suspension was observed in Darjeeling. The order suspending the Internet services was promulgated on 18th June 2017 due to the ongoing agitation for a separate Gorkhaland. Two days later, on 20thJune, the order was extended to the broadband services as well, effectively shutting down the entire Internet, with several such extension orders Internet services were suspended in Darjeeling for 100 days.

133 Days

8th July 2016 - 19th November 2016

Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir

100 Days

from 18th June 2017 to 25th September 2017

Darjeeling, West Bengal

Trends

upto 30 January 2019

Type of Shutdown

Of the 278 Internet shutdowns recorded between January 2012 and January 2019, 160 were observed to be preventive measures i.e. restrictions imposed in anticipation of law and order breakdowns, whereas 118 shutdowns were reactive in nature i.e. imposed in order to contain on-going law and order breakdowns.

Duration of Shutdown

60 of the 278 Internet shutdowns between January, 2012-2019 lasted less than 24 hours, 55 lasted between 24 and 72 hours, 39 lasted for over 72 hours, while no information was available on the respective durations of 113 Internet shutdowns. The non-availability of information is attributable chiefly to the fact that no public notifications are issued by the Government or Internet Service Providers before, during, or after shutdowns, leaving stakeholders outside affected areas to source this information from available news reports, which do not consistently mention the durations for which Internet access was blocked.

Nature of Shutdown

Of the 278 reported incidents, 224 were targeted at mobile Internet services alone (3 in 2012, 5 shutdowns each in 2013 & 2014, 8 in 2015 and 20 in 2016, 51 in 2017, 126 in 2018 and 6 till January 2019), 19 targeted both mobile and fixed-line Internet services (4 each in 2015 and 2016, 9 in 2017, and 4 in 2018), while only 2 shutdowns targeting fixed-line services alone were recorded during the period of study.

An Initiative of SFLC.In

SFLC.IN is a donor supported legal services organisation that brings together lawyers, policy analysts, technologists, and students to protect freedom in the digital world. SFLC.IN promotes innovation and open access to knowledge by helping developers make great Free and Open Source Software, protect privacy and civil liberties for citizens in the digital world by educating and providing free legal advice and help policy makers make informed and just decisions with the use and adoption of technology.

SFLC.IN is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, operating all over India.