Sharp decline in internet restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023: Surfshark

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In a significant shift from previous years, the troubled region of Jammu & Kashmir has seen a notable decline in internet restrictions, contrasting sharply with ongoing trends of increased censorship elsewhere.

According to the latest report by Surfshark, a cybersecurity company focused on developing humanized privacy and security solutions, in collaboration with internet watchdog NetBlocks, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed only four short-term internet restrictions in 2023, marking a substantial reduction from the staggering 42 instances recorded in 2022.

This decline stands out amidst a backdrop of rising internet censorship globally. The report highlights that Asia continues to lead in the count of internet disruptions, with eight Asian governments imposing a total of 55 new restrictions in 2023, affecting approximately 1.9 billion people - a quarter of the global population.

Iran took the lead globally in new restrictions, with all 29 cases recorded in 2023 directly linked to anti-government protests.

"Internet shutdowns are commonly used by autocratic regimes to hinder communications, thwart protest organization, and cut people off from loved ones in times of political unrest. During elections, internet restrictions limit the spread of information about candidates, eroding the democratic integrity of elections. Furthermore, amid violent government crackdowns, internet blackouts can effectively prevent the dissemination of critical information regarding human rights abuses to the international community. The increasingly frequent use of internet shutdowns threatens the global foundation of free speech and human rights, dangerously tipping the scale towards oppression and away from democratic accountability," Lina Survila, Surfshark spokeswoman said in a statement.

Meanwhile, India, traditionally among the top countries with frequent internet shutdowns, saw a slight uptick, recording 11 new restrictions in 2023 compared to 10 in 2022. Notably, eight of these cases occurred amid protests, including ongoing mobile data service suspensions in troubled districts of Manipur.

The Surfshark report emphasizes that protests remained the primary cause of government-imposed internet restrictions, affecting nearly two-thirds of cases in 2023 and impacting approximately 1.7 billion people across eight countries.

"Looking ahead, concerns arise as several countries with a history of imposing internet restrictions, including India, Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, are gearing up for elections in 2024. Given past patterns, these nations face a heightened risk of increased censorship as elections draw near."

The Internet Censorship Tracker, developed by Surfshark in collaboration with NetBlocks, monitors partial and complete internet and social media shutdowns in 196 countries and territories since 2015.