NEW DELHI — As the government of India pushes increasingly provocative policies, it is using a tactic to stifle dissent that is more commonly associated with authoritarian regimes, not democracies: It is shutting down the internet. India tops the world — by far — in the number of internet shutdowns imposed by local, state and national governments. Last year, internet service was cut in India 134 times, and so far this year, 93 shutdowns have occurred, according to SFLC.in, which relies on reports from journalists, advocacy groups and citizens. Syria and Turkey — countries not especially known for their democratic spirit — each shut down the internet just once in 2018. “When maintenance of law and order is your priority, you are not thinking about free speech.”

Source: New York Times December 17, 2019 17:11 UTC