CIO & LEADER-November 2017 (1)

Insight
Source: Freedom of the net 2017 report
IIndia has over 460 million internet users in India.
The rise in internet awareness and literacy keeps this
number is growing everyday. However, factors such
as network shutdowns, cyberattacks, among others
impact internet freedom like no other. However,
unlike last year, when the number of network shutdowns
ordered by local authorities increased dramatically.
This year observed comparatively lesser
incidents including temporary telecommunication
service shutdowns, among others.
According to Freedom on the Net 2017 report,
improving internet access in India was offset by
network and social media shutdowns ordered by
authorities. It was worse in other countries. Online
manipulation and disinformation tactics played an
important role in elections in at least 18 countries in
2016, including the United States. A record number
of governments have restricted mobile internet service
for political or security reasons, often in areas
populated by ethnic or religious minorities. For the
third consecutive year, China was the world’s worst
abuser of internet freedom, followed by Syria
and Ethiopia.
India has the second largest number of Internet
subscribers in the world after China in 2017, having
overtaken the United States. Still, internet penetration
in India remains low, reaching 33% in June 2017,
five up from 27% in June 2016. However, mobile penetration
in India increased from 81% in 2016 to 92%
by June 2017. The Broadband Commission ranked
India 78 out of 196 countries in terms of mobile
broadband penetration, up from 156 out of 179 countries
the previous year.
In the last three years, India has taken some tough
stands towards privacy. In 2015, The Supreme
Court struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, which
allowed arrests for objectionable content online, and
upheld citizen's rights to freedom and expression.
This year in 2017, the SC upheld privacy as a fundamental
right. This, and the stabilization of internet
freedom, is a sign that India is maturing and adjusting
to a digital economy
November 2017 | CIO&LEADER
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