[Chapter-delegates] internet restriction in and social media ban in Sri Lanka.

Fri Mar 16 07:04:20 PDT 2018

Dear Sagarika,

I am glad Alejandro brought attention to that paper from West (https://www.brookings.edu/research/internet-shutdowns-cost-countries-2-4-billion-last-year/ <https://www.brookings.edu/research/internet-shutdowns-cost-countries-2-4-billion-last-year/>) who estimated a $2.5B losses in GDP globally (2015-2016), for different shutdowns affecting globally different economies.  I agree these kind of arguments generates conscience about implications blocking or shutting down internet.

We in the Dominican Republic Chapter (ISOC-DO) published a charter of principles of internet in DR (https://isoc-rd.org.do/publicaciones/recursos/principios-sobre-internet-en-republica-dominicana/), containing the wants of our community about internet; which came out from a workshop specially design in 2016; to reflect, together, in a multistakeholders model, considering the ISOC vision, policy briefs and the impact on socioeconomic factors & human rights.  The first (out of the twelve) principle states: Internet must be free; open; safe; stable; inclusive; neutral and for everyone.

We, the ISOC-DO chapter, join our voices of protest for such counterproductive actions from authorities, blocking communication to internet affecting the people of Sri Lanka affecting human rights of people; and wish an inclusive dialogue process arise from authorities to find constructive ways to promote stability, respecting human rights.

Kind regards,

Osvaldo

——
Osvaldo Larancuent
President
Internet Society
Dominican Republic Chapter
https://isoc-rd.org.do

> On Mar 16, 2018, at 9:15 AM, Jane Coffin <coffin at isoc.org> wrote:
> 
> So awesome to see Chapter partnership Power 😉
>  
>  
> Internet Society | www.internetsociety.org <http://www.internetsociety.org/>
> Skype:  janercoffin
> Mobile/WhatsApp:  +1.202.247.8429
> From: Chapter-delegates <chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org <mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org>> on behalf of Alejandro Pisanty <apisanty at gmail.com <mailto:apisanty at gmail.com>>
> Date: Friday, March 16, 2018 at 3:40 AM
> To: Sagarika Wickramasekera <sagarika.wickramasekera at gmail.com <mailto:sagarika.wickramasekera at gmail.com>>
> Cc: "chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org <mailto:chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>" <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org <mailto:chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>>, Subhashish Panigrahi <Panigrahi at isoc.org <mailto:Panigrahi at isoc.org>>
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] internet restriction in and social media ban in Sri Lanka.
>  
> Sagarika,  <>
>  
> there may be further arguments which are of use with different parts of the authorities (assuming they are not monolithic, and each office has different drivers):
>  
> 1. Blocking access to basic, widespread services used for people communicating may cause further irritation and protests, and close channels that could help reduce tensions and eventually allow for the diffusion of new agreements between the contending parties;
>  
> 2. There may be a significant econonomic hit, not only to the parties that the government wishes to shut off, but also to those they want to support. Some estimates have been made - see for example https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/cost-of-shutting-down-the-internet/ <https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/cost-of-shutting-down-the-internet/> or https://www.brookings.edu/research/internet-shutdowns-cost-countries-2-4-billion-last-year/ <https://www.brookings.edu/research/internet-shutdowns-cost-countries-2-4-billion-last-year/> or the detailed paper referenced in there, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/intenet-shutdowns-v-3.pdf <https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/intenet-shutdowns-v-3.pdf>
>  
> It may be that you can't convey this points directly to a government office that will listen, but that business representatives may take the second one, and those concerned with education or the delivery of health and social services will be sensitive to the first one. 
>  
> Hope you get this bad situation fixed soon. What you learn will be valuable for all; one more reason we should all find ways to support you and ISOC Sri Lanka.
>  
> Alejandro Pisanty
>  
> On Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 1:27 AM, Sagarika Wickramasekera <sagarika.wickramasekera at gmail.com <mailto:sagarika.wickramasekera at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> Thanks Nicolas this is very useful.
>>  
>> On Thu, Mar 15, 2018 at 6:10 PM, Nicolas Seidler <seidler at isoc.org <mailto:seidler at isoc.org>> wrote:
>>> Hi Sagarika, 
>>>  
>>> Thanks for sharing these disturbing news on the list. Blocking platforms seems like a shortsighted solution for real problems that need to be addressed. 
>>>  
>>> I hope our technical piece on content blocking <https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2017/internet-content-blocking/>, as shared by Richard, can be of help in engaging the government. 
>>>  
>>> If there is anything else we can do to be useful in supporting your efforts, please do reach out to me. 
>>>  
>>> Thanks,
>>> Nicolas
>>>  
>>>  
>>>> On Mar 15, 2018, at 11:32 AM, Richard Hill <rhill at hill-a.ch <mailto:rhill at hill-a.ch>> wrote:
>>>>  
>>>> Dear Sagarika,
>>>>  
>>>> Thank you for this. You are right to flag the issue.
>>>>  
>>>> As it happens, I was in Sri Lanka last week and was surprised when WhatsApp suddenly stopped working. I later found out that the government had blocked access to WhatsApp and to Facebook because of the unrest and potential violence in Kandy.
>>>>  
>>>> As you know, ISOC opposes blocking, see:
>>>>  
>>>> https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2011/09/blocking-internet-content-harmful-or-efficient <https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2011/09/blocking-internet-content-harmful-or-efficient>
>>>>  
>>>> And the more recent paper at:
>>>>  
>>>>   https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2017/internet-content-blocking/ <https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2017/internet-content-blocking/>
>>>>  
>>>> ISOC Switzerland made a statement back in December 2016 regarding blocking, see:
>>>>  
>>>>   https://www.isoc.ch/archives/2430 <https://www.isoc.ch/archives/2430>
>>>>  
>>>> Best,
>>>> Richard
>>>>  
>>>> From: Chapter-delegates [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org <mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org>] On Behalf Of Sagarika Wickramasekera
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2018 07:03
>>>> To: Chapter Delegates
>>>> Cc: Subhashish Panigrahi
>>>> Subject: [Chapter-delegates] internet restriction in and social media ban in Sri Lanka.
>>>>  
>>>> Dear All,
>>>>  
>>>> We are facing a critical situation of  restriction internet in some part of the country and social media ban. 
>>>>  
>>>> As internet society Sri  Lanka chapter we raise our voice by conducting open discussion forum for multi stake holder community and  today we are going to handover the summary document to relevant authorities along with the press release. 
>>>>  
>>>> We are not agreed on any kind of control on internet and we believe in the net neutrality.    
>>>> Please do join your hands with us with supporting ideas where you have the similar situations.
>>>> Sagarika Wickramasekera 
>>>> Asst.Network Manager
>>>> SriPalee Campus,
>>>> University of Colombo.
>>>> BSc.(Nat.Sci) CCNA,CCSP,MBA
>>>> President  ISOC  Sri Lanka chapter
>>>> LKiNG Advisory board member
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>>>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>>>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org <https://portal.isoc.org/>
>>>  
>>> Nicolas Seidler
>>> Senior Policy Advisor
>>> Internet Society
>>> seidler at isoc.org <mailto:seidler at isoc.org>
>>>  
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> -- 
>> Sagarika Wickramasekera
>> Asst.Network Manager
>> SriPalee Campus,
>> University of Colombo
>> BSc.(Nat.Sci) CCNA,CCSP,MBA
>> President  ISOC  Sri Lanka chapter
>> LKiNG Advisory board member
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org <https://portal.isoc.org/>
> 
> 
>  
> -- 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>      Dr. Alejandro Pisanty
> Facultad de Química UNAM
> Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico DF Mexico
> +52-1-5541444475 FROM ABROAD
> +525541444475 DESDE MÉXICO SMS +525541444475
> Blog: http://pisanty.blogspot.com <http://pisanty.blogspot.com/>
> LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pisanty <http://www.linkedin.com/in/pisanty>
> Unete al grupo UNAM en LinkedIn, http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/22285/4A106C0C8614 <http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/22285/4A106C0C8614>
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/apisanty <http://twitter.com/apisanty>
> ---->> Unete a ISOC Mexico, http://www.isoc.org <http://www.isoc.org/>
> .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org <https://portal.isoc.org/>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/private/chapter-delegates/attachments/20180316/157fb033/attachment.htm>