Regional shutdown
Balasore
Local authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended for two days in the Balasore municipality of Odisha starting on Tuesday, 18 June, as part of an imposed curfew following community violence. Authorities explained the order was given to "prevent the circulation of inflammatory and motivated messages on social media and disturb the public order in Balasore municipality areas; the prohibition on social media usage has been enforced." According to reports, Internet services were partially restored on leased lines at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20 June, but not mobile data services. All Internet services were restored by 24 June.
- Total Duration 6 days
India
- Population
- 1,438,069,596
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Partly Free
Local impact
Local authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended for two days in the Balasore municipality of Odisha starting on Tuesday, 18 June, as part of an imposed curfew following community violence. Authorities explained the order was given to "prevent the circulation of inflammatory and motivated messages on social media and disturb the public order in Balasore municipality areas; the prohibition on social media usage has been enforced." According to reports, Internet services were partially restored on leased lines at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20 June, but not mobile data services. All Internet services were restored by 24 June.
Related documentation
#Odisha govt suspends Internet service & use of social media platforms in Balasore town & nearby areas in view of the communal tensions pic.twitter.com/OpTAejqJxl— Haris Chandra Naik (@HarisChandraNa9) June 18, 2024
#BalasoreGroupClash | Suspension of social media platforms extended Access to WhatsApp, Facebook, X suspended in #Balasore Municipality areas for up to 10 AM of 22nd June Mobile, internet/data services of MSPs & ISPs suspended #Balaosre #Odisha pic.twitter.com/NKk7UxqaPx— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) June 20, 2024
Other supporting information
It’s difficult to measure the effect of local/regional Internet shutdowns as most measurements are done at a country level.
Social media
#BalasoreCurfew: Normalcy returning to #Balasore as relaxation increased; schools also opened today. #Listen to what locals, who welcome the move of local administration, say on prices of vegetables & other items and internet services #Odisha pic.twitter.com/bJVmEToGUE— OTV (@otvnews) June 24, 2024
Curfew imposed, Internet services suspended in Balasore after communal clash: 34 arrested - Indian Express 19/06/2024 #balasore #Odisha @OdishaNews_Live @odishanews24 #riots #internet #InternetShutDown #internetban #internetsuspended @aajtak @ANI #cowslaughter #Hindu #Muslim @ANI pic.twitter.com/gUBUG4NvYU — Indian Advocate (@AdvocateIndian) June 19, 2024