Online Freedom – is it declining?

Over the past decade, the influence of internet as a means to spread information and challenge existing media controls has rapidly expanded. Being online these days is not only about emails, it also includes all modes of communication – Facebook, Whatsapp, BBM, Twitter, Nimbus, Yahoo Messengers, Google Talk, Wechat, Viber, Youtube, blogs… the mode is huge and widespread.

As events in the Middle East in 2011 demonstrated, the internet has also emerged as a crucial medium through which citizens can mobilize and advocate for political, social, and economic reform, sometimes for positive development and sometimes to spread rumour and hatred. Fearing the power of new technologies, authoritarian states have devised subtle and not-so-subtle ways to filter, monitor, and otherwise obstruct or manipulate the openness of the internet. Even a number of democratic states have considered or implemented various restrictions in response to the potential legal, economic, and security challenges raised by new media.

10 MOST COMMONLY USED TYPES OF INTERNET CONTROL 

1. Blocking and filtering
2. Cyber-attacks against regime critics
3. New laws and arrests
4. Paid pro-government commentators
5. Physical attacks and murder
6. Surveillance - electronic
7. Takedown illegal content and deletion requests
8. Blocking social media and communications apps
9. Intermediary (like Internet Service Providers, Hosting services, Webmasters) liability
10. Throttling or shutting down service

Though India was largely liberal on this till couple of years ago, the case has turned around with Government resorting to all type of controls of online freedom for varying reasons.

• In Aug 2012, Indian Government blacklisted social media accounts, for causing spread of rumours and calm simmering sectarian tensions between indigenous Bodo community and Muslim settlers in Assam, which apparently led to mass exodus from cities like Mumbai, Pune & Bangalore.
• In 2012, Government authorities placed a ban on sending bulk SMS messages, so as to avoid spreading of rumours.
• Also in Nov 2012, Mumbai police arrested a woman for complaining on Facebook about widespread traffic and service disruptions in Palghar to mark the death of Bal Thackerey. The woman’s friend, who “liked” the comment, was also arrested.

Media reports now state that India is showing the biggest decline when it comes to Internet freedom. All along, people were getting comfortable to air their views and follow leaders on internet. And now, with these clamps & restrictions, this is seriously getting impacted. Of course, internet freedom does not give right to abuse others, parody accounts and hiding behind some nameless/faceless and attacking others. But any sort of restrictions should not take away the liberty and bring down the medium that is helping in bringing closer people across geographies and improve ties.