- The recent tensions between India and Pakistan have led to several Internet shutdown events in conflict areas.
- Shutting down the Internet during conflict and tension jeopardizes people’s safety and access to information.
- Rather than shutting down the Internet, governments must build crisis-resilient communication systems.
As drone warfare becomes the face of modern conflict and governments increasingly depend on digital surveillance to uphold national security, a pressing question arises: In a war wired by the Internet, why are civilians still left in the dark?
In today’s world, the Internet is no longer a luxury but a lifeline. It powers not just military-grade drones and encrypted communication systems, but also everyday civilian essentials: WhatsApp calls between family members, real-time evacuation alerts, digital payments, and access to emergency healthcare.
Yet during the recent India-Pakistan tensions, the default response to reduce the risk of civil unrest was a complete Internet shutdown.
While the examples used in this article are from India, due to the scale and visibility of such incidents, similar — and in many cases, more severe — issues have occurred in Pakistan. Across the border, the digital divide is further compounded by infrastructural limitations and technological gaps, making communities even more vulnerable to fear-driven misinformation and restricted digital participation.
War Rooms Remain Online, Communities Go Dark
In April and May 2025, Indian authorities ordered curfews as well as power and Internet blackouts across several conflict-sensitive areas, including Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, and large parts of Jammu & Kashmir.
These restrictions were described as ‘precautionary measures’ following drone sightings and rising tensions with Pakistan. However, instead of preventing misinformation, these measures allowed misinformation to thrive as never before, as per the following examples:
Example 1: The Tragic Case of Md Qari
Qari Mohammad Iqbal, a respected teacher from Poonch district in the Jammu division of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, India, was tragically killed in cross-border shelling by Pakistan on 7 May 2025.
National news channels such as News18, Zee News, and Republic TV falsely branded him a terrorist, spreading baseless claims later refuted by the Poonch police. While his family and students grappled with loss amid war fears, they also faced the unbearable weight of misinformation on the Internet.
Delays in action and the lasting presence of fake news, misinformation, data leaks, and propaganda—often used as tools in psychological or military information warfare—can profoundly and sometimes permanently affect the minds of ordinary citizens.
Given the sensitivity of disinformation and the scale at which it is shared and remains accessible on the Internet, the administration’s response must go beyond mere Internet shutdowns. Adopting stricter, more accountable measures to combat disinformation, protecting public trust, and ensuring responsible digital governance is imperative.
Example 2: Students Missing Exams Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Amid the recent India-Pakistan conflict, students from border regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan faced severe challenges in appearing for entrance and admission examinations.
Heightened security, travel restrictions, and communication blackouts created widespread disruption. Initially scheduled for 8 May, the CUET-UG exam was postponed to 13 May, with some students from Jammu assigned centres in Chandigarh, 420 km away.
Student groups demanded local exam centres and emergency helplines. Misinformation further worsened the crisis, including a fake circular on exam cancellations.
The situation highlighted the urgent need for contingency planning and accurate communication during geopolitical crises. This is especially critical in India, where a single piece of online misinformation can impact millions of people.
Example 3: False Alarms Fuelling Digital Mistrust
A recent incident in Baruipur, West Bengal, highlights how unverified claims from influential individuals can widen the digital divide.
A prominent leader, Suvendu Adhikari, raised alarm on social media over a “suspicious” rooftop device allegedly linked to two Kashmiris. The post went viral, sparking communal tension.
However, local verification revealed the individuals were engineers from Madhya Pradesh using a standard JioFiber connection while exploring pisciculture opportunities.
Such misinformation endangers innocent lives and creates fear around everyday technology use, discouraging communities from adopting digital tools critical for development, entrepreneurship, and inclusion in the digital economy.
Are Internet Shutdowns Effective in Curbing Lawbreaker Actions, or Punish Law-abiding Citizens More?
According to the Internet Society’s Pulse, India has witnessed over 400 Internet shutdowns since 2019, amounting to more than 83,000 hours of disrupted connectivity.
Most of these shutdowns are justified for maintaining peace or preventing the spread of misinformation during unrest. But is this a proportional response, or simply the most convenient one for authorities in the face of public dissent?
Several nations have taken a different approach.
- Israel’s Red Alert app sends real-time rocket warnings. It is a civilian-focused early warning system that provides real-time notifications of incoming rocket, missile, or mortar attacks.
- Civil defense authorities in Ukraine use Telegram and SMS to issue location-based evacuation alerts.
While effective, these systems still rely heavily on Internet connectivity for full functionality. In contrast, India lacks a dedicated emergency alert system for civilians, especially one that can function reliably under low-bandwidth or limited connectivity conditions.
Rather than shutting down the Internet, governments must build crisis-resilient communication systems. This includes:
- Localized public alert mechanisms that use mobile networks (SMS and cell broadcasts) to deliver timely updates, even in low-connectivity areas.
- A systematised alert framework for monitoring misinformation and enabling real-time fact-checking during emergencies.
- Clearly defined protocols should be used for limited, targeted restrictions on digital access instead of sweeping Internet bans that disrupt entire populations.
- Measures to preserve essential communication channels, such as health, transport, and emergency services, even during partial disruptions.
Today’s wars are fought on land and at borders and in narratives, newsfeeds, and networks. The denial of digital access during wartime doesn’t just hinder rumors—it hinders democracy, safety, and truth.
So we must remember that when tensions rise and drones fly, people don’t need silence; they need signals.
Saadia Azim, a public policy expert from India, conducts in-depth research on the Digital Divide and actively advocates for Internet Rights. As the Vice President for Publicity at the Internet Society’s Kolkata Chapter, she is key in bridging the gap in understanding digital accessibility and governance.
The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Internet Society.