Internet shutdown

23 May 2018

In power

AIADMK — Tamil Nadu

Acted

State government, Tamil Nadu

Under

Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, Rule 2(1); G.O. No. 679

The Tamil Nadu government suspended internet services in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts from 23 May until 27 May. The order said provocative messages with half truths on social media had led to the gathering of about 20,000 people, and that the internet had to be stopped to prevent such rumours. After the Madras High Court asked the State on 25 May why the two other districts were covered, services were restored in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari while the suspension in Thoothukudi continued. The State told the court that the Home Secretary revoked the order after two days for those districts and two days later for Thoothukudi. In August 2018 the court directed the Home Secretary to form a committee to apply international standards when using the 2017 suspension rules [3][4][2][5][1]

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