![]() The report urges States to refrain from imposing shutdowns, to maximize Internet access and remove the multiple obstacles to communication. Tim Engelhardt, Human Rights Officer, reported examples of how hospitals, unable to contact their doctors in cases of emergency, “installed loudspeakers on the hospitals to call them.” The costs to jobs, education, healthcare, and political participation virtually always exceed any hoped-for benefit. When a State shuts down the internet, both people and economies suffer. But many of those shutdowns were followed by spikes in violence.” Time to end shutdowns According to Peggy Hicks “199 Shutdowns were justified by public safety concerns, and 150 were based on national security grounds. Yet, shutdowns often achieve the exact opposite. When authorities do recognize having ordered disruptions, justifications often point to public safety, containing the spread of hostility or violence, or combatting disinformation. The official justification for the shutdowns was unknown in 228 cases reported by civil society across 55 countries. Many States refuse to acknowledge interfering in communications or putting pressure on telecom companies to prevent them from sharing information. Shutdowns can mean a complete block on Internet connectivity, but governments also increasingly ban access to major communication platforms and limit bandwidth and mobile services to 2G transfer speeds, making it difficult to share and watch videos or live picture broadcasts. The first major internet shutdown took place in Egypt in 2011, during the Tahrir Square protests that led to hundreds of arrests and killings. “At least 27 of the 46 least developed countries have implemented shutdowns between 20, despite receiving support to increase their Internet connectivity” stressed Ms. Hicks explained shutdowns deepen digital divides between and within countries and “are happening in places where there are deteriorating human rights situations”.Īt a time when substantial development aid is directed towards enhancing connectivity in less developed countries, some of the beneficiaries of that assistance are themselves deepening the digital divide through shutdowns. Speaking at a press conference at the UN in Geneva on Thursday morning, Ms. “When you see a shutdown happen, it's time to start worrying about human rights”, said Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, at the UN human rights office (OHCHR). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |