Basics
- Event/Issue: Nepal recently witnessed violent protests after the K.P. Sharma Oli government banned access to 26 social media platforms, sparking unrest and eventually the government’s ouster.
- Context: This reflects a recurring global trend where governments impose sweeping digital shutdowns in times of political instability, and social media (SM) companies respond passively.
- Fact: As per UN Human Rights Council (2016), internet shutdowns are violations of international law, yet over 700 documented shutdowns occurred worldwide between 2016–2023 (Access Now data).
Relevance :
- GS-II: Polity (Rights, Freedom of Speech), Governance (Internet Shutdowns), International Relations (Global norms).
- GS-III: Science & Tech, Internal Security, Cyber Governance.
Why in News
- The insurrection in Nepal escalated after the ban on social media platforms triggered widespread violence and civic unrest.
- The conduct of SM companies — issuing generic statements but avoiding active resistance — is under scrutiny.
Significance
- Democratic rights: Raises concerns over freedom of expression and access to information.
- Geopolitics: South Asia’s fragile democracies are vulnerable to digital authoritarianism.
Overview
Polity/Legal
- Internet access increasingly seen as a basic right (UNHRC, 2016).
- Nepal incident highlights absence of enforceable global norms to protect digital rights.
- India too has seen frequent internet shutdowns (e.g., J&K, farmers’ protests).
Governance/Administrative
- Shutdowns weaken state capacity by creating information vacuums and mistrust.
- Social media companies avoid confrontation with host states, prioritising market access.
- Santa Clara Principles call for transparency in content moderation but remain under-implemented.
Economy
- Shutdowns impose severe economic costs: Nigeria (2021) lost ~$26 million/day during Twitter ban.
- Disrupts SMEs and informal businesses dependent on digital platforms.
- Nepal, with limited digital infrastructure, faces amplified economic and social disruption.
Society
- Widening digital divide: tech-savvy users find VPNs, but poorer citizens lose access entirely.
- Information blackouts fuel misinformation, insecurity, and mob violence.
- Curtails civic activism, especially during crises (e.g., Myanmar 2021 coup).
Environment/Science & Tech
- Not directly environmental, but linked to technological architectures (centralised vs decentralised).
- Decentralisation (Tor, Mastodon, Signal proxies) could strengthen resilience against shutdowns.
International
- Big Social firms adopt different stances in Global South vs Global North — softer in India, Nigeria, Iran; tougher in U.S., EU.
- Reflects surveillance capitalism model — revenue-driven compliance over civic duty.
- Regional blocs (e.g., AU, SAARC) could negotiate standards for digital resilience.
Challenges
- Lack of binding international legal framework on digital rights enforcement.
- Platforms’ reluctance to deploy decentralised/circumvention tools (fear of government retaliation, revenue loss).
- Authoritarian misuse of shutdowns under guise of “national security”.
- Inequitable impact on vulnerable populations.
- Weak collective bargaining by Global South governments.
Way Forward
- Legal & Policy: Codify “right to internet access” in domestic constitutions/laws (like Kerala HC 2019 ruling).
- Transparency norms: Mandate real-time disclosure of shutdown orders (Santa Clara Principles).
- Tech solutions: Develop in-app VPNs, proxy modes, federated networks; stress-test platforms like financial regulators.
- Regional cooperation: SAARC/AU frameworks to demand minimum digital safeguards.
- Civil society: Strengthen digital rights advocacy and user literacy on circumvention tools.
- Global alignment: Integrate with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure).
Conclusion
The Nepal case highlights the double vulnerability of fragile democracies — to state overreach and corporate passivity. Going forward, transparency, decentralisation, and enforceable global norms are essential to safeguard digital rights as core civic rights.
