Inside the dystopian nightmare of an internet shutdown

Rhett_Bassard

Government internet shutdowns around the world are insidious, isolating and on the rise.

On Oct. 1, the Iraqi government pulled the plug on the country's internet. With no warning, out it went like a light. Ever since, the internet, messaging services and social networks have flickered on and off like faulty bulbs...

This is exactly what happened to Berhan Taye the first time she experienced an internet shutdown, while visiting family in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2016...Taye leads the nonprofit Access Now's Keep It On campaign...

In 2018 there were 196 documented internet shutdowns across 25 countries, primarily in Asia and Africa...Of those 196 shutdowns that happened last year, 134 took place in India...Most of India's internet shutdowns are ordered at the regional government level, although it's often hard to tell where the orders come from...

Often they do so (shutdown) around the time of elections -- a trend that has increased over the past year, starting with Bangladesh at the end of 2018, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Benin...

Following the Easter bombings that took place in Sri Lanka earlier this year, for instance, some Western media were quick to praise the government's decision to block access to social media to prevent the spread of false information...

Shutdowns in India are estimated to have cost the country over $3 billion since 2012, according to a report published by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations last year...

(complete Source)

asr335704

Yes, They are feeling threatened by free internet because free internet gives voice to common people that is not only heard by everyone but also spreads quickly over the cities/countries/globe.

To add more, I read in newspaper couple of days ago that Russian government is also building a great firewall to filter online contents and control internet services.

chanakyakripa

NICE INFO. HOWEVER SOMETIMES THIS IS ALSO USED AND DOES HELP TO PREVENT UNREST OF DIFFERENT TYPES - POLITICAL AS WELL AS COMMUNAL

Rhett_Bassard

On 01 NOV, Russia enacted a law to allow government internet filtering, e.g. DPI, Deep Packet Inspection. Similar to China.

Source of full story.

While I disagree with restricting personal freedoms, I also see the behavior of Homo sapiens leading to same. I think in the quest for freedoms, many have reduced concepts of personal responsibility and consequence. Individuals have become 'entitled' and care little for the overall sense of community, i.e. the 'greater good'. We've become so PC (Politically Correct) with individuals that the counterbalance turns to reducing the greater environment. Welcome to the #NannyState.

abhidebb

Democracy is being threatened by dictatorial regimes....
Definitely alarming..!!!