Hacker News Reader

Comment by iKevinShah | Hacker News Reader

Context is super important while reporting such news.

"India, the World's Largest Democracy, Shuts Down the Internet " - False.

"India, the World's Largest Democracy, Shuts Down the Internet in the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan " (they had it blocked for entire state of Jammu and Kashmir) where terror attacks are (were?) a norm, specially in Kashmir

View on HN

Internet access was cut off recently also in the states of UP and Karnataka, where terror attacks are totally not the norm. It was done in response to protests against the CAA.

Edit: I mention this to call out the tendency of this government to use internet access cuts to suppress dissent regularly as a powerful tool.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/internet-shutdown-...

Is burning buses just dissent for you?

> Internet access was cut off recently also in the states of UP and Karnataka, where terror attacks are totally not the norm. It was done in response to protests against the CAA.

Some more context: The Internet was cut off in regions where protestors resorted to violence. And usually, the violence here doesn't just mean fighting among people. It involves burning buses and destroying public property.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-natio...

https://morungexpress.com/index.php/mayhem-bengal-anti-caa-p...

There was no internet shutdown in cities like Mumbai and Pune where protestors remained peaceful.

Stop spreading FUD dude. If someone cuts of Internet in Karnataka for anything more than a fleeting movement, there'll be widespread complaints esp. B'luru. This cliched colonial mentality (both of Indian and Western 'liberals') of "ah look at these stupid heathens! we need to go over there and show them all that is good!" is really starting to wear thin.

I find that context unimportant and the thrust of the headline to be true and worth considering.

Even if only for a relatively small region, this government blocked access to information and communications.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com