India's internet shutdown rule which allows for temporary shutdown of telecom and internet services "due to public emergency or public safety" was challenged by Rajya Sabha MP Husain Dalwai who called for annulment of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, 2017, on July 31 in the Monsoon session of Parliament. “That this House resolves that in pursuance of Section 7(5) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, published in the Gazette of India, dated the 8th August, 2017, vide notification G.S.R. 998(E) and laid on the Table of the House on the 15th December, 2017, be annulled; and That this House recommends to Lok Sabha that Lok Sabha do concur in this Motion”. The rule was issued and notified under the Telegraph Act in August 2017. Internet shutdowns have become rampant in the country over the last few years; they are ordered in events of communal tensions, public discord and even to prevent cheating in exams. According to a tracker run by Software Law Freedom Centre, the total number of shutdowns have increased from 31 in 2016, to 79 in 2017. Just seven months into 2018, there have already been 93 internet shutdowns this year. The SFLC tracks internet shutdowns based on news reports, so it is likely that there have been more shutdowns which have taken place, but have not made it to the news. [caption id="attachment_188369" align="alignnone" width="581"] Credit: internetshutdowns.in, Software Freedom Law Centre[/caption] …
