Live data from Hacker News

India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

nytimes.com

91–100 of 304 posts

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#91
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least not centralised cashless transactions. A mesh network using some kind of crypto is even better at avoiding government interference than cash.

Don’t all cryptos rely on a global network consensus for operation? How would Kashmir’s forked chain resynchronize with the larger chain once back online?

Mesh networks can still connect up to the internet. "The internet" is a concept and isn't really owned or controlled by anyone. It's more about the ledger itself being distributed. It'll definitely be much slower. though.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Preventative measures are necessary for the kind of thing it can spark. To prevent what exactly? Political dissent? Why can't people in Kashmir right now talk to each other over phone? Why can't they call their loved ones outside the region? Why isn't anyone else allowed to contact them? Why are lawyers, professors and activists being jailed? Why are some people not being allowed to leave the country? Why can't Ind…

Kashmir is a part of India and India is not an occupational force. Also India doesn't want another Syria/Afganistan/Pakistan/Sudan/Libya/Iraq happening next to it.

I'm sure people of Kashmir would shout this at the top of their lungs if the communication blockade was lifted.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay, let's say they lift the ban here is how things will transpire. First, Pakistan's ISPR would start a massive disinformation campaign aided by the separatist who lost all their influence with the present government but has a great following among the Kashmiri Youth. Then there would immense violence with many dead while the "leaders" and there loved ones stay in a five-star hotel in Delhi. To prevent a loss of li…

C'mon, stop bringing Pakistan into this. India has mismanaged Kashmir so badly that the majority of the population wants to leave India -- and not to join Pakistan, mind you, but to be independent.

Pakistan is a big part of problem here by supporting militants and terrorists. Material, money and training support. Let’s not absolve Pakistan here. They invaded independent Kashmir in 1947 and Kashmir had to let go its independence to get support from India against Pakistan’s war.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay, let's say they lift the ban here is how things will transpire. First, Pakistan's ISPR would start a massive disinformation campaign aided by the separatist who lost all their influence with the present government but has a great following among the Kashmiri Youth. Then there would immense violence with many dead while the "leaders" and there loved ones stay in a five-star hotel in Delhi. To prevent a loss of li…

C'mon, stop bringing Pakistan into this. India has mismanaged Kashmir so badly that the majority of the population wants to leave India -- and not to join Pakistan, mind you, but to be independent.

Huh what? Are you even aware of the history? Being independent has been their goal from day 1; that's the reason for the conflict. It's not because India has "mismanaged" Kashmir.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#95

Shopkeepers said that vital supplies like insulin and baby food, which they typically ordered online, were running out. Cash was scarce, as metal shutters covered the doors and windows of banks and A.T.M.s, which relied on the internet for every transaction. Doctors said they could not communicate with their patients. While nobody expects a war in their city, it's yet another example of why none of us should rely on…

While I understand where you’re coming from, I don’t agree with this sentiment. Imagine saying this about electricity or gasoline. Modern cities would be completely shut down without these resources, and we should treat the Internet in the same way - as a vital resource that we simply accept as present except in the most egregious or catastrophic circumstances.

Internet is far more critical than gasoline or even electricity. Everything is IP based, and processes for just about everything are dependent on some random service in AWS.

In a significant civil unrest event, it would be very feasible for a prepared party to create widespread disruption on a regional level.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#96

>Kashmir, an area of 12.5 million people that is claimed by both India and Pakistan and has long been a source of tension. There is also a portion of the area that is claimed by China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir#/media/File:...

Given to China by Pakistan who didn't have right to it in the first place as per UN

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#97
post #79
post #73

We have so many satellites up there that can stream photos of specific locations. Can those companies fund a few days' worth of live streaming of key areas? It gives everybody an option to see the reality/facts instead of opinions. Nobody knows whom to trust in these crisis times and everything appears as an opinion of an individual or a small group.

> Can those companies fund a few days' I assume these companies dont want any trouble from the Indian Govt if they have business in India.

Planet’s satellites use Indian launch vehicles due to their economic viability. They were muted in their response to Debris in outer soace due to Indian anti satellite test.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Preventative measures are necessary for the kind of thing it can spark. The change is not like demonetisation rather a well thought and long-held demand of the present government. It has been there in the election manifesto since they started publishing election manifesto. The new york times is entitled to its view on how India's elected government ought to run the country but that does not mean the government is goi…

> Preventative measures are necessary for the kind of thing it can spark. To prevent what exactly? Political dissent? Why can't people in Kashmir right now talk to each other over phone? Why can't they call their loved ones outside the region? Why isn't anyone else allowed to contact them? Why are lawyers, professors and activists being jailed? Why are some people not being allowed to leave the country? Why can't Ind…

> What exactly is all this preventing?

Simply put, it's preventing deaths. Kashmir is volatile and massive government decision like scrapping Article 370 is sure to create violent protests in the region. See Kashmir protests circa 2016 on how violent it can get.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I understand where you’re coming from, I don’t agree with this sentiment. Imagine saying this about electricity or gasoline. Modern cities would be completely shut down without these resources, and we should treat the Internet in the same way - as a vital resource that we simply accept as present except in the most egregious or catastrophic circumstances.

> Imagine saying this about electricity or gasoline You can store both in dunks and batteries. If someone invents a way to bottle spare internet, that's the next unicorn for sure :)

Satellite internet, with batteries or a generator, works even when local conflict shuts down pretty much everything else.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#100
post #2

I think it is pretty clear that the Indian Government rushed into this because this is what their Hindu-nationalistic base wants - subdue the only Muslim Indian majority state. However, just like their ill-fated demonetization policy from 2016, they haven't given a whole lot of thought to what happens the day after. How long will they keep these restrictions? How far are they prepared to go if there is a mass uprisin…

[deleted]
Post reply on HN