India imposed by far the highest variety of web shutdowns in the world in 2022, web advocacy watchdog Access Now stated on Tuesday, as the nation topped the record for the fifth successive 12 months.
Out of 187 web shutdowns globally recorded by Access Now, 84 passed off in India, together with 49 in Indian- administered Kashmir, the New York-based digital rights advocacy group stated in a report revealed on Tuesday.
“Authorities disrupted internet access at least 49 times in Kashmir due to political instability and violence, including a string of 16 back-to-back orders for three-day-long curfew-style shutdowns in January and February 2022,” the watchdog report added.
Kashmir has lengthy been a flashpoint between India and archrival Pakistan, which declare the area in full however rule solely elements.
In August 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party authorities led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped the autonomy of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir, splitting it into two federally administered territories.
The authorities has since often imposed communications restrictions on the area on safety grounds, which rights teams have condemned and described as measures to quash dissent.
Militants have battled India’s rule in Kashmir for greater than three many years. The South Asian nation blames Pakistan for stoking the revolt. Islamabad denies the claims.
Although India as soon as once more led the world in web shutdowns, 2022 marked the first time since 2017 that there have been fewer than 100 shutdowns in the nation, the watchdog stated.
Ukraine was second on the record, with the Russian navy chopping entry to the web at the least 22 occasions after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 of final 12 months.
“During Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military cut internet access at least 22 times, engaging in cyberattacks and deliberately destroying telecommunications infrastructure,” the watchdog stated in its report.
Ukraine was adopted on the record by Iran the place authorities imposed 18 web shutdowns in 2022 in response to demonstrations in opposition to the authorities.
Nationwide anti-government protests erupted in Iran final fall after the loss of life of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian girl Mahsa Amini in police custody on September 16 final 12 months. Amini was arrested in Tehran by the morality police for flouting the hijab guidelines, which require ladies to completely cowl their hair and our bodies. She died whereas in custody.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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