Security personnel patrolling the violence-hit area of Manipur’s Kanto Sabal in Imphal West. file | Photo Credit: ANI
The Manipur government is considering setting up kiosks across the state where citizens can access internet services. Hindu have learned.
A week before this, the Manipur High Court sought options to restore internet with restrictions on social media websites and also directed the government to restore limited access at designated places for some time.
A similar mechanism was set up in Jammu and Kashmir when internet services were suspended on August 5, 2019, following the abrogation of special status under Article 370.
Internet services have been suspended in Manipur since May 3, when ethnic clashes broke out between the dominant Meitei community and the tribal Kuki-Zomi community. At least 100 people have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands internally displaced in the violence so far.
While mobile data and broadband services have been largely suspended since May, the administration has allowed internet access on select devices in some public places and government buildings such as the DIPR office and the High Court.
The Home Department had also allowed media houses operating in the Imphal Valley and the offices of some civil society organizations in the hill district of Churachandpur to apply for internet access.
Now, following the High Court’s order, the government is planning to expand such physical access points for internet services across the state to reduce the problems faced by the society due to the shutdown, confirmed Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi. Did. Hindu,
In an affidavit before the High Court on 16 June, the state government said that other options for providing limited internet access, such as whitelisting of permitted websites or blacklisting of restricted websites, for violations by third-party VPN services be appropriately sensitive.
A source close to the administration said that when whitelisting was first tried in J&K in 2020, the administration realized that VPNs were still breaking the restrictions.
Physical kiosks are being planned as an alternative to such measures, the source said, adding that it would be much more secure and have a better chance of blocking social media access than other options.
The kiosks would have a limited number of computers, each with a wired connection to the Internet and a secure firewall.
To expand such access points, the government plans to include institutions and organizations that already have physical infrastructure (computers, wires and other equipment) and are already with some Negotiations underway. Dozens of private companies with similar infrastructure have also approached the government to offer their services for the purpose.
However, administration sources and rights experts said the work was logistically critical and would take time to begin fully.
Nevertheless, such a system cannot help citizens in an area of daily struggle, said Amrita Chowdhary, director of CCAOI (formerly known as Cyber Cafe Association of India).
“Considering the situation now in the state when there is a possibility of violence on the streets, one cannot expect citizens to travel to physical access points to access internet services. A lot of people need to access online banking services, health services and communication and this can’t really help,” Ms Chowdhary explained.
The High Court is all set to hear on Friday several petitions seeking restoration of internet services.
IFF condemns shutdown
The Internet Freedom Foundation issued a statement on Thursday saying it was deeply troubled by the ongoing internet shutdown in the state and would approach the concerned public authorities with representations.
The IFF said that the complete ban is being extended every five days through “templated orders” and this is against the Supreme Court judgement. Anuradha Bhasin Case. It also objected against the censorship of some Twitter accounts.
The organization condemned the use of the charge of sedition in the state, reports of which have come to the fore. It added, “The IFF is deeply troubled by these serious violations of fundamental rights.”
It states, “Online censorship and restrictions on privacy, which is a continuing administrative practice, undermine the individual’s fundamental right to expression and the collective fundamental right to access information.”