Information spreads very quickly through the Internet. Because of this, in a situation of stress, the first thing to do is turn off the Internet. The District Magistrate of the city can take this decision. Apart from this, the government has also informed about this whole matter, about which we have been talking.
Every day you hear and read on TV, news websites and newspapers that the government has closed the internet and bulk SMS due to tension at a particular place. Have you ever wondered why the government bans these things first in a tense place?
If you have never thought about it, then let us tell you about the answer given by the government in the Rajya Sabha regarding the ban on Internet and bulk SMS. We will also tell you why internet and bulk SMS are first banned in stressful places.
The government gave this answer in Rajya Sabha
In 2021, the then Minister of State for Home Kishan Reddy had given a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha that during tension and riots, internet and bulk SMS are shut down to control emergencies.
Because at such a time, information spreads very fast in cyber space, due to which any mischievous element can spoil the environment of other places by making misinformation viral.
He had said that during tension and riots, to maintain public safety and avert emergency situations, designated authorities of states and union territories shut down telecommunication services and internet.
This comes under the procedure of Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services (Amendment) Rules 2020. Reddy had said that centralized data regarding internet shutdown is not maintained by his ministry.
Who issues order to shut down internet?
In case of stress, the District Magistrate of the city can shut down the internet and bulk SMS. For this, section 144 can also be cited.
This section is imposed only when there is a possibility of tension arising in a city and there is a ban on political gatherings and gathering of crowds.