Spare the net: Manipur lifted mobile internet ban. Violence didn’t follow. That’s the lesson

Internet services were restored in Manipur on September 23, almost five months since its shutdown after violence erupted on May 4. While restrictions had been partially lifted since July 25 on broadband services, mobile internet – which is a civilian lifeline – was restored after 143 days. Not a day too soon. That CM Biren Singh made the announcement at a press conference displayed recognition of the restoration’s significance. All such bans have a crippling effect on economic activity and cause public severe hardship, especially students and WFH professionals – many, even from parts of Manipur that were unaffected, were forced to move to neighbouring states. These columns have frequently argued against governments resorting to internet shutdowns as a policing tool purportedly to stop the spread of fake news.

Internet shutdowns in the name of law and order are a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Manipur’s ban for instance stopped not only “fake news” from spreading but also real news and videos of the extent of hostilities in relatively interior areas. Knowledge of such fighting may have spurred earlier action and helped central police and army deal with militant groups and mobs quicker. Earlier action may have stopped the spiral into today’s deep polarisation between the state’s two communities.

India leads the world in internet shutdowns, the one in J&K since abrogation of Article 370 lasted 552 days. The Supreme Court has been clear that indefinite suspension of internet services goes against freedom of speech and that such orders must satisfy tests of necessity and proportionality. Soon after restoration, social media expectedly saw a surge in videos of the early days of violence. But the law and order machinery was alert to any troublemakers looking to inflame tensions. No sporadic incident has been reported. That is the vigil required.

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