Internet Shutdowns

Odisha authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across the Bhadrak and Dhamnaghar districts for 48 hours from 28 September 2024 to prevent the spread of inflammatory messages in the wake of community unrest sparked by a social media post.

Jharkhand State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across the state on 21 and 22 September 2024, between 8:00 and 13:30 (local time), to avoid malpractice during the General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examinations.

Jharkhand State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across the state on 21 and 22 September 2024, between 8:00 and 13:30 (local time), to avoid malpractice during the General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examinations.

Assam State authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended across 28 of the state's 35 districts on 15 September 2024, between 10:00 and 12:00 and 14:00 and 16:00 (local time) to avoid malpractice during the written examination for Class-III government post. Similar orders were given in August 2022 for the Class-III (21 August) and Class-IV (28 August) government post exams but were not during the last exam day on 11 September 2022. These orders come despite a petition in March 2022 to the West Bengal High Court challenging a government move to suspend internet services to control cheating in the Madhyamaik Examinations. from which the court acknowledged but stayed the order. According to a report, the court disposed the matter by saying, “The Rule of 2017 are required to be complied with and the Supreme Court has already laid down the law which is binding under Article 141 of the Constitution, hence, we express hope that while issuing any such order in future, the State authorities will duly comply with the same.” According to the Internet Freedom Foundation, this was an important judgement by the High Court because it would be useful when persuading states to follow the law on internet suspension.

Manipur authorities order Internet services to be suspended across the state’s five valley districts—Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching Districts—following clashes between students and local security forces during a march. Manipur, a state of 3.7 million people, has been embroiled in ethnic clashes and subsequent Internet shutdowns since May 2023. One report notes that the Manipur government partially lifted the ban on Internet services on 14 September, allowing broadband services to reduce "hardships faced by citizens". The restoration of broadband services, however, is subject to stringent conditions to ensure security and prevent misuse: Internet connections will be provided only through static IP, and subscribers are prohibited from using any other connection type. Subscribers are barred from creating Wi-Fi networks or hotspots from their routers or systems. Media Access Control (MAC) binding at the system or router level must be enforced, and social media websites and VPNs will be blocked at the local level. Subscribers must remove any existing VPN software from their systems and are prohibited from installing new ones. There will be physical monitoring to check for any violations of these conditions, and subscribers must change login IDs and passwords daily. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country, or in other countries.

Internet services in Badlapur in Maharashtra's Thane district were suspended for 24 hours amidst a large scale protest that took place on 20 August 2024. Suspending Internet services during times of conflict restricts legitimate information and communication and limits freedom of speech and expression.

On 16 August, Udaipur authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended for 24 hours from 22:00 local time in several areas in the district to maintain law and order following a stabbing at a local school. These orders were extended twice, on 17 August and 18 August, following communal unrest. Although the final orders stipulated Internet services were to return at 22:00 on 19 August, multiple people reported some services not resuming until 21 August. Suspending Internet services during times of conflict restricts legitimate information and communication and limits freedom of speech and expression.

Haryana authorities have ordered Internet and bulk SMS services to be suspended in Sisra until 23:59 local time, 8 August 2024. The orders were issued by the Department of Home Affairs of Haryana as a precution to prevent any disturbance and spread of misinformation following the death of a notable religious leader in the region. As noted by one report, "The Haryana government’s use of terms like “apprehension” and “clear potential” suggests the internet restriction is preventive, despite no substantial evidence of misinformation or inflammatory material on social media, as mentioned in the order. Such actions restrict legitimate information, especially during a major social development in the State, impacting people’s access to readily available means of communication, and limiting their freedom of speech and expression."

Nuh authorities have ordered Internet and SMS services to be suspended for 24 hours starting from 18:00 local time on 21 July. The orders were issued by the Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi to prevent any disturbance to peace and public order in the Nuh district amid the Brajmandal Jalabhishek Shobha Yatra prosession happening on Monday 22 July. According to one report, Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said the exemptions have been provided for personal SMS, mobile recharges, banking SMS, voice calls, corporate and domestic broadband, and leased line Internet.