Internet shutdown cost India a lot of money in counterblast

According to a research released on Thursday, internet shutdowns by law enforcement authorities in states like Manipur and Punjab cost the Indian economy US$1.9 billion (about 1559 billion rupees) in the first half of 2023.

According to the Global Nonprofit Internet Association’s Netloss report, the shutdown also resulted in the loss of about US$118 million (roughly Rs. 968 billion) in foreign investment and more than 21,000 jobs. rice paddock.

The nonprofit organisation draws the conclusion that the economic effects of closures go beyond production losses after taking into account variables including changes in unemployment rates, losses in foreign direct investment (FDI), risks of future closures, and the working-age population. rice paddock.

The paper said that “governments frequently erroneously believe that blocking access to the internet will reduce social unrest, halt the spread of false information, and lessen the impact of cybersecurity threats.”

According to reports, India’s Internet shutdown this year reached 16%, which is the highest level to date. Shutting down the internet is a tactic used to keep the peace that has already caused great harm to India.

The closure will, according to the research, put an end to e-commerce, result in losses in time-sensitive transactions, raise unemployment, interfere with interactions between firms and consumers, and endanger enterprises’ finances and reputations. It reads.

The non-profit organisation, which was established in 1992, has made it plain that it opposes the shutdown and has pleaded with the government not to enforce it, claiming that doing so will destroy the nation’s economy, civil society, and Internet infrastructure.

“The global rise in internet shutdowns continues as governments continue to ignore the consequences of undermining the open, accessible, and secure nature of the global internet,” said Andrew Sullivan, president and CEO of the Internet Society. That proves there is, he said.

In order to maintain public order, India recently put its economy at danger by shutting down the Internet. This miscalculation by the Indian government led to India’s largest decrease in the first half of the year as well as to a disastrous outcome following the closure of the order.