2G internet services on post paid mobiles will be restored in the districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi on January 15, but only for accessing “white-listed sites,” according to an order by the Home Department of the Jammu and Kashmir government. Whitelisted sites include government websites and e-banking websites, according to the order. The order also directed internet service providers to enable broadband internet (with Mac-binding) to banks, hospitals, government offices, hotels and tour and travel establishments. Mac binding reserves a static IP address. It also directed the Divisional Administration of Kashmir to install 400 internet kiosks. Directions prescribed in the order will be in effect for a week. The Supreme Court had said that access to the internet is part of free speech: This order comes days after the Supreme Court, on January 10, declared that the right to internet is also part of freedom of speech and expression, and an indefinite ban on the internet is an abuse of power. The court ordered the Jammu & Kashmir administration to review all restrictive orders within seven days, and put out all restrictive orders since August last year so that they can be challenged in a court of law. It also said that suspending the internet should be reviewed hereon, and such suspension could only be for a limited time period and is subject to judicial scrutiny. https://twitter.com/diprjk/status/1217149110219722817 Social media, VPNs will not be accessible The government clarified that ISPs will have to install “necessary firewalls” and carry…
