Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said India needs to cease “arbitrary restrictions” on internet and phone services.<\/p>\n
The organisation said state governments had imposed 20 temporary internet shutdowns in 2017.<\/p>\n
Authorities say they shut internet and telecommunications services to stop rumours during times of unrest.<\/p>\n
But the rights group said arbitrary internet shutdowns “violated India’s obligations under international human rights law”.<\/p>\n
Kashmir social media ban criticised<\/a><\/p>\n Heat wave in India: Frustration, rumours and memes<\/a><\/p>\n Indian authorities frequently shut telecommunication services in Indian-administered Kashmir.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, the government in the western state of Maharashtra shut down internet services after protests led by farmers turned violent.<\/p>\n Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the authorities’ concern about misuse of social media “should not be the default option to prevent social unrest”.<\/p>\n “The lack of transparency and failure to explain these shutdowns only further the perception that they are meant to suppress nonviolent reporting and criticism of the government,” she added.<\/p>\n The organisation, however, said that social media in India “has at times fuelled rumours leading to violence”.<\/p>\n But it advised the government to not fully shut services during protests.<\/p>\n “Instead of fully shutting down networks, authorities can use social media to discourage violence and restore public order,” it said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source bbc<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"