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India temporarily banning social media sites in Kashmir (2017)

Kashmir region - Political and Military standoff between India, China and Pakistan Self-made from Reference: Atlas of the World (2003 Comprehensive Ed.)

In 2017, the Indian government imposed a ban on 22 social media outlets in an effort to suppress Kashmiri separatist voices in the Kashmir valley that’s disputed by India and Pakistan.

Historical background: India in Kashmir

Located on the northernmost geographical region of India, Kashmir has been the source of territorial disputes between Pakistan and India because both countries claim parts of it. Although Kashmir is divided into three parts that are each administered by China, Pakistan and India, the region has sparked numerous conflicts between the latter two countries, with the most recent attack being the suicide bombings in February 2019. Furthermore, because of Kashmir’s geographic location, India and Pakistan both could potentially have legitimate rights to it.

The conflict dates back to 1947, when India was initially partitioned into two countries. Under the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir was free to accede to either Pakistan or India, but its maharaja (local ruler), Hari Singh, chose India in 1947, sparking a two-year war. It was the first of three wars that the two countries have had over the territory. The second war occurred in 1965, and the third war occurred in 1995. During the time of the third war, Pakistan and India both proclaimed themselves as nuclear powers as they started testing nuclear devices in May of 1998.

Most of the conflict occurs in the territory’s mainly Indian-administered part, Jammu and Kashmir. India controls 43 percent of the land area, Pakistan controls 37 percent of the land area and China controls 20 percent of the land area. However, the cause of the problems primarily deal with the religious makeup of the region. The population in Jammu and Kashmir is more than 60 percent Muslim, conflicting with the overwhelmingly Hindu population of India. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state within India where Muslims are the majority. Thus, the people in that area don’t want to be governed by India and would rather be independent or governed by Pakistan. Violence in the area since 1989 has killed more than 47,000 people.

Contemporary conflict

The contemporary conflict which prompted the social media blackout in Kashmir is taking place in the Indian controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir. A 60% Muslim state administered by the otherwise Hindu majority India, Jammu and Kashmir has long been fertile ground for militant groups to gain momentum.

In 2016, Burhan Wani, a young militant with a wide social media following, was killed during a conflict with Indian security forces. This revitalized the militant movement among Kashmiri youth, many of whom come from middle class, educated backgrounds. Since Wani’s death, violence in the region has seen a steady increase.

2019 has marked a turning point in the conflict. On February 15, 44 police officers of the Indian security force were killed in a suicide car bombing. While the Pakistani government has denied responsibility for the bombings, the Pakistan backed militant separatist group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed credit for the attack. The Indian government responded in turn, placing the blame squarely on the Pakistani government. Twelve days later two Indian fighter planes crossed into Pakistan controlled Kashmir and bombed a suspected terrorist training facility. Ground based skirmishes flared up along the Line of Control in the following days. Pakistan has launched its own airstrikes in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian military has shot down at least one Pakistani fighter, leading to tense negotiations over the release of the Pakistani pilot. Tensions continue to escalate in the region between the Pakistani military, Pakistan backed militants, and Indian security forces.

Social media ban & the effect of social media in the Kashmir conflict

Authorities in Kashmir blocked 22 social media applications and websites from the public in an effort to ease tensions in the region after videos showing alleged abuse of Kashmiris by Indian forces fueled protests. A few of the applications and websites that were blocked for a month were YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter, as well as 3G and 4G mobile phone data services. The ban was imposed on April 26, 2017, but didn’t immediately take place because of technical glitches.

An official state circular issued a statement saying that social media services were being “misused by anti-national and anti-social elements” in the Valley to disturb “peace and tranquility” and could be blocked for as many as 30 days. An excerpt from the statement reads: “The government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message … through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier”.

Many citizens of Kashmir and India openly opposed this web ban and argued that it goes against the basic tenet of free expression that is ensured by India’s constitution. A popular journalist, Gowhar Geelani, went to social media to protest these bans by tweeting his frustrations on the topic. Other citizens posted gruesome video clips or pictures that were proven to be powerful and aided in intensifying anti-India protests in the region.

One of the many videos posted on social media to protest the Internet ban was a video of a “stone-throwing teenage boy being shot by a soldier from a few meters (yards) away.” Another video shows “soldiers making a group of young men, held inside an armored vehicle, shout profanities against Pakistan while a soldier kicks and slaps them with a stick. The video pans to a young boy’s bleeding face as he cries. Another clip shows three soldiers holding a teenage boy down with their boots and beating him on his back." These videos were posted on social media to shed light and raise awareness of the alleged abuse happening to the citizens of Kashmir.

History of India's Censorship Efforts

In India, there were 19 states that reported at least 70 incidents after government officials ordered service providers to restrict local mobile phone, SMS, wireless, or internet service in 2017. Jammu and Kashmir, the northern Indian state, recorded the most internet shutdowns in the country with 36 incidents in 2018 alone, according to the report. The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations said that there was 16,315 hours of internet shutdown in India from 2012 to 2017, which cost the economy more than $3 billion. In total there have been 293 shutdowns in India since 2012, with the highest number of them in Jammu and Kashmir (139). There have been 21 shutdowns just in 2019. The longest Internet Shutdown India has seen was in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 after the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8th, 2016. Mobile Internet Services were suspended for 133 days. They faced almost a six month Internet shutdown from July 8th to November 19th in 2016.

An official message from the government in India said “The government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message … through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier”. It said social media was being misused with anti-national and anti-social elements that could lead to peace being disturbed.

The Kashmir shutdown wasn't completely successful. India is a member of The United Nations and in July 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council “explicitly condemned” internet shutdowns. “The council condemns unequivocally measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online in violation of international human rights law, and calls upon all States to refrain from and cease such measures”. Although, the country still places bans on certain sites at challenging times. Activists in the scene argue internet shutdowns are illegal and unconstitutional.

Shutdowns can last hours, days, weeks, or even months. The longest shutdowns were 133 days in 2016 and 100 days in 2017.

Reactions to India’s shutdown

Within Kashmir, locals have protested the blackouts, calling the measures collective punishment and illegal. Kashmir locals with families outside the country are rendered unable to make contact. Government backed organizations in India have been hindered by the shutdowns as well, with health awareness initiatives deprived of one of their most cost effective and wide reaching social media tools.