OMG I did not know Indian Government could go up to such an extent :-0 On Mar 16, 5:29 am, arun singh <[email protected]> wrote: > *Indian government can switch off your internet if necessary* > > Complete control and the right to shut down cyber traffic during sensitive > situations is still a very debatable topic among the western nations. But > the Indian government, keeping all debates aside has ventured in full-speed > to acquire the right of 'killing your internet' whenever required and has > incorporated a provision under the IT Act of 2008. > > While the western countries are yet mulling over their jurisdication of > complete control debating the The Indian government has armed itself with > powers to 'switch off' or kill the internet during times of national > emergencies, becoming one of the first few countries to assume such far > reaching authority. > Even as the US and other western nations debate the judiciousness of giving > the government's complete control to shut down cyber traffic, India has > moved a step ahead and incorporated a provision under the IT Act of 2008, > giving the Central government, or any of its officers specially authorised > by it, to block the internet if necessary. The shutdown can happen in the > interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, its defense, security of its > states, friendly relations with foreign states or for public order. Failure > to comply will result in imprisonment of up to seven years. > > The implications of this move are immense as it gives the government > overriding powers over a fast-growing and widely used resource, and one that > is becoming increasingly crucial in conducting commerce and social > interaction. The country has about 70 million internet users ? a figure > growing at about 25% every year. 'Where the Central government or any of its > officer specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is > necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of sovereignty and integrity > of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with > foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the > commission of any cognisable offence relating to above, it may subject to > the provisions of sub-sections (2) for reasons to be recorded in writing, by > order direct any agency of the government or intermediary to block access by > the public or cause to be blocked for access by public any information > generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer > resource,' 69A of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008 says. > > The amendment was pushed through in the weeks following the 26/11 attacks in > Mumbai. Supporters of an internet 'kill switch' ? as it is being popularly > called ? say it will enable countries to prevent the spread of rumours and > false information during times of national crisis and help coordinate a > coherent response without any sign of public panic. But it can also be > misused by governments to shut down legitimate protests and exercise illegal > power in the face of public opposition. The governments in the North Africa > and the Middle East have been resorting to this tactic during the violent > protests triggered in January this year against despotic rule. > > The plan has drawn predictable ire from bloggers, activists and lawyers but > the government also has its supporters. 'If it's in national security's > interest, switching off the internet for a short period is not unwelcome,' > says Amrita Chaudhary, director at Cyber Cafe Association of India. 'It is > not a bad idea to switch off the internet for security reasons. But we > should distinguish between national security and privacy,' Naresh Ajwani, > secretary at Internet Service Providers of India, said. Not satisfied with > this provision, India is now moving ahead to develop alternate plans in case > the 'switch' does not work. The draft plan by the Cabinet Committee on > Security and Ministry of Home Affairs along with Ministry of IT & > Communications to 'choke' the internet at will, which ET reported last year, > is also learnt to be in its final stages. > > Source : ET > > -- > Regards > Arun
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