Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#1

Post by jor-el » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 4:50 PM UTC

TL;DR: Internet is considered a fundamental right in modern times, but it is also a reason to lead to social unrest because of misinformation being spread on it. What can be a solution to this problem? Is it justified to shutdown internet in times of social unrest?

Today I came across a very disturbing news of health workers being attacked while they visited a suspected Covid-19 infected patients house in India (and many other countries). The cause of attack has been attributed to misinformation being spread on a Whatsapp group. This news is not a one off incidence of Internet services leading to a social unrest.

As a solution, often Indian government lean to shutdown the internet in such places during riots, or any kind of social unrest. Indian government did the same in Kashmir recently as a per-emptive measure in 2019. This was criticized and our Supreme court went on to say Internet is a fundamental right.

So here lies my dilemma. On one hand Internet - which of course includes Facebook, Insta, whatsapp, Signal etc services - is very important and considered as a fundamental right, but it is also causing harm to the society. How can such problem be solved, which from my vantage point is becoming more frequent? Can it be justified to shutdown internet or censor internet during crisis? If not, then how to tackle this problem from a governance point of view when you know the cause from where the problem is arising.

I am giving examples from India, but this problem is becoming very global according to me, and would like to hear your views from a global perspective, is there some country handling this in a better way? And I humbly request, please do not indulge in any political arguments.

[1] https://www.news18.com/news/india/four-arrested-in-indore-for-attacking-spitting-on-health-officials-during-covid-19-contact-tracing-2561659.html (Whatsapp part mentioned towards the end of article)

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#2

Post by gtirloni » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 5:05 PM UTC

Do you shutdown electricity/water during riots? Food for thought.

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#3

Post by jor-el » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 5:07 PM UTC

gtirloni wrote: post #2

Do you shutdown electricity/water during riots? Food for thought.

Does electricity/water spread misinformation over it?

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#4

Post by gtirloni » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 5:15 PM UTC

jor-el wrote: post #3

gtirloni wrote: post #2

Do you shutdown electricity/water during riots? Food for thought.

Does electricity/water spread misinformation over it?

Not sure about water but electricity, sure. My PC is plugged to the wall socket.

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#5

Post by jor-el » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 5:18 PM UTC

gtirloni wrote: post #4

jor-el wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does electricity/water spread misinformation over it?

Not sure about water but electricity, sure. My PC is plugged to the wall socket.

And my PC is using water for cooling it. I am thinking on your points now :)

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#6

Post by powerapple » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 6:15 PM UTC

I have been thinking about the same problem. Apparently the damage of misinformation is done once it is out, apparently it can not be reversed. Then I come up with an idea: why don't we fight misinformation with misinformation. The only thing someone who believe in misinformation can only be misinformation.

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#7

Post by bjourne » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 6:21 PM UTC

India is led by a proto-fascist government so it is not strange that the country is now the world leader in internet shutdowns. The purpose of the shutdown is to make it harder for protestors to organize and to prevent unflattering news about India from reaching an international audience.

If civil unrest is occurring in a country it is probably better for the government to address the root cause of the unrest rather than trying to suppress it by cutting of the internet. Because people has a right to protest.

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#8

Post by acd » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 6:39 PM UTC

Solution volunteer to quit social media. Including these messengers.

Call friends instead

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#9

Post by keenmaster » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 6:52 PM UTC

The solution is not technological. It is social. We should not cynically dismiss the average person’s capacity for rationality. Through sustained effort, we can produce a society where people penalize provocative, sectarian memes and reward scientific, rational, progressive efforts.

If that seems quaint, consider the alternative. The internet gives nuclear-scale ammunition to fear mongerers and foreign agents. Scientific nation building, moderated by democratic humanitarianism, is a necessity not a fantasy in this day and age.

Re: Ask HN: Problem of social unrest and shutting down Internet

#10

Post by leetcrew » Thu, Apr 02, 2020, 7:13 PM UTC

shutting down the internet entirely would be an unmitigated disaster. the internet is my only source of information from the outside world, since I have no TV or radio in my apartment. since monday, it has been illegal for me to go outside unless it's a short walk for exercise or a trip to the grocery store. if I didn't have access to the internet, I would have no way of knowing this.

a slightly more reasonable alternative would be for the government to censor misinformation during the crisis. this raises the usual questions: what will be censored? at what level will it be decided? I certainly do not trust the trump administration to curate my news.