The Human Cost of Internet Shutdowns in Kashmir feat. Devdutta Mukhopadyay

Internet data and voice were both shutdown for months in Kashmir, after the removal of Article 370 in August of 2019, that has given Kashmir some autonomy. This action split the state into three parts. Since then, the local governments have implemented internet shutdowns more often - the latest being in Haryana and on the outskirts of Delhi where farmers are currently protesting. In addition to that, recent orders to Twitter to take lock several accounts have added another dimension to the government's move to curb the internet.

On this episode, Sidharth talks to Devdutta Mukhopadhyay, a young lawyer who's part of the digital rights platform 'Internet Freedom Foundation'. Devdutta has studied and written about internet lockdowns in india which are getting more frequent and bigger in terms of geography and duration. She shares her views on how Twitter cannot really reveal what the reason behind accounts being locked down are or who the order has been sent by, and, if ignored, they can be imprisoned for at least 7 years, why it's important for companies like Twitter to give more time in getting more resources and content moderation in India and not only first world countries. Devdutta also touches upon how internet shutdown are different in Kashmir in comparison to most other states, how in Kashmir 18 out 20 districts don't have access to 4G, how, while there were internet shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the doctors couldn't practice telemedicine and faced problems due to curbing of the internet, and even that there has been no academic season for 2 years. The economic cost of internet shutdowns in India have cost around $2.8 billion dollars. Devdutta also talks about the failures of our education system and how schools should teach children how to spot misinformation, because as internet penetration increases, internet shutdowns will occur time and again, but also how the government can use the internet to prevent internet penetration. All this and a whole lot more on this episode, so do tune in.

Follow the Internet Freedom Foundation on Twitter: internetfreedom

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