[Off Topic] :Indian government can switch off your internet if necessary
Indian government can switch off your internet if necessary
Complete control and the right to shut down cyber traffic during
sensitive situations is still a very debatable topic among the western
nations. But the Indian government, keeping all debates aside has
ventured in full-speed to acquire the right of 'killing your internet'
whenever required and has incorporated a provision under the IT Act of
2008.
While the western countries are yet mulling over their
jurisdication of complete control debating the The Indian government has
armed itself with powers to 'switch off' or kill the internet during
times of national emergencies, becoming one of the first few countries
to assume such far reaching authority.
Even as the US and other
western nations debate the judiciousness of giving the government's
complete control to shut down cyber traffic, India has moved a step
ahead and incorporated a provision under the IT Act of 2008, giving the
Central government, or any of its officers specially authorised by it,
to block the internet if necessary. The shutdown can happen in the
interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, its defense, security of
its states, friendly relations with foreign states or for public order.
Failure to comply will result in imprisonment of up to seven years.
The
implications of this move are immense as it gives the government
overriding powers over a fast-growing and widely used resource, and one
that is becoming increasingly crucial in conducting commerce and social
interaction. The country has about 70 million internet users ? a figure
growing at about 25% every year. 'Where the Central government or any of
its officer specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that
it is necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of sovereignty
and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state,
friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing
incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to
above, it may subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) for reasons
to be recorded in writing, by order direct any agency of the government
or intermediary to block access by the public or cause to be blocked for
access by public any information generated, transmitted, received,
stored or hosted in any computer resource,' 69A of the Information
Technology Amendment Act, 2008 says.
The amendment was pushed
through in the weeks following the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Supporters
of an internet 'kill switch' ? as it is being popularly called ? say it
will enable countries to prevent the spread of rumours and false
information during times of national crisis and help coordinate a
coherent response without any sign of public panic. But it can also be
misused by governments to shut down legitimate protests and exercise
illegal power in the face of public opposition. The governments in the
North Africa and the Middle East have been resorting to this tactic
during the violent protests triggered in January this year against
despotic rule.
The plan has drawn predictable ire from bloggers,
activists and lawyers but the government also has its supporters. 'If
it's in national security's interest, switching off the internet for a
short period is not unwelcome,' says Amrita Chaudhary, director at Cyber
Cafe Association of India. 'It is not a bad idea to switch off the
internet for security reasons. But we should distinguish between
national security and privacy,' Naresh Ajwani, secretary at Internet
Service Providers of India, said. Not satisfied with this provision,
India is now moving ahead to develop alternate plans in case the
'switch' does not work. The draft plan by the Cabinet Committee on
Security and Ministry of Home Affairs along with Ministry of IT &
Communications to 'choke' the internet at will, which ET reported last
year, is also learnt to be in its final stages.
Source : ET
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Regards
Arun
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