Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Sailor dies after oil tanker catches fire in Ctg      ● Ex-president Badruddoza Chowdhury passes away      ● Killing during students' movement: 9 bodies to be exhumed in Sylhet      ● Malaysian prime minister leaves Dhaka for home      ● CA seeks Malaysian support for Bangladesh to be ASEAN dialogue partner      ● Malaysian PM assures of attention to 18,000 Bangladesh workers       ● Bid to kill Khaleda Zia: Sheikh Hasina among 113 sued      

Impacts of Internet outage 

Published : Saturday, 3 August, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 320
Md Khalilur Rahman Sajal
The internet has evolved into a basic instrument for communication, business, and education in a time when knowledge is freely available across digital media. Still, its most important contribution is in the news distribution. The internet is their main information source for billions of people globally, enabling them to keep updated about local, national, and international happenings. Though its crucial relevance, governments and authorities all throughout the world regularly turn to internet shutdowns, usually with little thought given to the far-reaching effects on news consumers' rights and liberties. One striking illustration of these consequences is Bangladesh's recent online outage.

Internet shutdowns are deliberate disruptions of internet services, either through complete disconnection or significant throttling of online speeds. These closures might target particular areas, groups, or even specific online services like social media sites. Under the cover of preserving public order, stopping the dissemination of false information, or protecting national security, governments rationalize these acts. These policies, however, frequently cause major public collateral damage to their access to information right.
The recent internet blackout in Bangladesh, implemented to curb the spread of misinformation and maintain public order, had profound impacts on news consumers. The blackout left millions without timely access to vital information, therefore undermining their capacity to remain informed about local and worldwide events as digital news platforms became the main source of real-time updates. Journalists and media outlets, who depend on the internet for news gathering and distribution, also suffered with the blackout. This disturbance brought attention to the fragility of information ecosystems and begged questions regarding the harmony between public information rights and national security.
Internet shutdowns restrict access to independent news sources and alternative opinions, therefore functioning as a tool of censorship. By exerting control over the dissemination of information, authorities are able to shape public opinion by restricting access to only narratives that have been accepted by the state.Reliable information is absent, hence false information can proliferate quickly. People deprived of confirmed news sources during an internet shutdown start to speculate and fear. This can aggravate the very problems governments say they are solving with closures.

Internet shutdowns are frequently utilized in periods of political turmoil or demonstrations. Through the deliberate cessation of communication channels, governing bodies can suppress opposition and impede the coordination of demonstrations, thus infringing upon the fundamental rights of individuals to freely express their opinions and assemble peacefully. The news sector, like to numerous other industries, is becoming more dependent on digital platforms for the dissemination of information. An internet outage hinders the operational structure of news organizations, resulting in financial setbacks and undermining their capacity to provide timely information.

The right to access information is protected in several international human rights frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These documents highlight the significance of freedom of expression and the entitlement to seek, receive, and convey knowledge. Internet shutdowns are a flagrant infringement of these rights, as they impede persons from freely accessing and sharing information.

Furthermore, ethical concerns about the principles of transparency and accountability become relevant. Governments that implement shutdowns frequently fail to provide sufficient explanation or follow proper procedures, which weakens public trust and accountability. The absence of transparency in such decisions exacerbates the core tenets of democratic governance.

As a result of the growing occurrence of internet shutdowns, various international organizations, civil society groups, and technology corporations have initiated efforts to resist and counteract this trend. The United Nations has consistently denounced internet shutdowns, highlighting their disproportionate effect on human rights. Access Now and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are advocacy groups that vigilantly observe and document cases of internet shutdowns, offering assistance and resources to people impacted. Technological solutions, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and mesh networks, have also arisen as methods to circumvent shutdowns. Nevertheless, these solutions are frequently short-term remedies and fail to tackle the underlying reasons of internet delays imposed by the government.

The recent internet blackout in Bangladesh caused a widespread disruption in communication and access to information throughout the country. This incident highlights the significant violation of rights for news consumers and the broader consequences it has on democracy, human rights, and public trust. Although governments may contend that such regulations are essential for upholding order, they have a significantly adverse effect on freedom of expression and access to information. As the international community persists in promoting open and unimpeded internet connectivity, it is vital to ensure that governments are held responsible for their activities and to safeguard the fundamental rights of individuals to freely access and exchange information.

By promoting increased openness, transparency, and connectivity, we can guarantee that the internet continues to serve as a potent means of enlightenment and empowerment, rather than a weapon for exerting control and suppressing freedom. The example of Bangladesh serves as a reminder of the cruciality of being watchful in safeguarding digital rights and freedoms in a progressively interconnected society.

The writer is Executive Director, Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA)



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Is a full-scale war in Middle East imminent?  
How UN stays relevant by prolonging ME crisis
Unchanging value of literature in the age of algorithms
Teachers should focus on social justice in classrooms
Our fiscal transparency in the report of USA
Joviality in self exploration
The observance of the world teacher's day in the new light
Natural gas crisis in Bangladesh: Is LNG the only solution?
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: info©dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝