Why in news?
The Department of Telecom (DoT) is evaluating the possibility of blocking some mobile applications during emergencies.
What is DoT's move?
- The DoT has written to telecom service providers (TSPs) and internet service providers (ISPs).
- It noted that issues had been raised by Ministry of Electronics and IT, and Law Enforcement Agencies for blocking.
- TSPs/ISPs were thus asked to explore possible ways to block mobile applications.
- This would be as per the provisions of the IT Act, 2000.
- It includes Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and such other mobile applications.
What is the need?
- The reasons are, reportedly, to stop child abuse/pornography and to curb the spread of fake news.
- It comes as a move to deal with emergencies, especially when national security and public order are under threat.
- The growing incidence of lynchings across the country invariably based on some fake news is the immediate reason.
- The move aims at blocking the applications in an emergency, rather than blocking access to the Internet as a whole.
- However, MeitY has informed DoT that blocking such apps during emergency situations was difficult.
- This is because they work through multiple IP addresses and on different protocols, and hence the request for other possible ways.
What are the concerns?
- Cause - Violence triggered by spread of fake news is not purely a law and order issue.
- It is indicative of the social malaise of intolerance and prejudice in the society.
- So using blunt instruments of state censorship such as blocking applications would miss the real problem.
- Rights - Any such ban would violate the fundamental right of free speech.
- It would further dent India’s image as a modern society that values and protects democratic principles.
- It would, in fact, penalise majority of the users and withhold services for most genuine consumers.
- Also, it would ignore the efforts of the industry to self-regulate and make such social media platforms less prone to being misused.
- Loss - According to estimates, internet shutdowns cost the Indian economy over $3 billion between 2012 and 2017.
- Some of the recent examples are the bans in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan.
- The better option thus would be for the government to work with the companies concerned instead of banning the apps.
Source: Business Standard
