[Chapter-delegates] [Southasia-chapters] Internet Shutdown in Sri Lanka

[sivasubramanian muthusamy]

On Mon, Apr 22, 2019, 5:38 PM Jose R. de la Cruz III <jrdelacruz at acm.org>
wrote:

> +1 Sivasubramanian M
>
> As a Catholic, I am deeply troubled by the incidents. Stay strong!
>

I have always opposed censorship and shutdown, am acutely aware of the fact
that any provision for censorship or flow of information would lead to one
form of control followed by another.

But Sri Lanka has a certain history of conflicts, it's ethnic fabric is of
a certain nature. The recent incident makes everyone angry, historical
mistrust and present ethnic conflicts could amplify in a moment like this.
While free flow of information is of value in crisis management, initial
angry exchanges and uneducated speculation against one group or another
could flow by messaging and certain class of social networking sites,
leading to riots and greater harm.

I wrote a quick message which is better articulated as, "In the case Sri
Lanka, considering the country's sensitivities, for the present moment, for
a day or two, propagative message flow can be selectively curtailed, but
not shut down the entire Internet, the with adequate caution that such a
practice does not get emulated indiscriminately, and with the caution that
such emergency, extraordinary measures do not pave way for control over the
Internet. And subject to several other 'if's and 'but's.

There may not be time to debate on such a complex question for Sri Lanka,
but for arriving at a position for emergency situations, it may be
necessary to lean a little, just a little, to hear the case for some
emergency measures for some messaging and other applications for a day or
two in extraordinary situations and at the same time examine ways of making
sure that extraordinary emergency measures are taken only in extraordinary
emergency situations.

A proposition so difficult that it troubles me a little to throw it open.

Sivasubramanian M






> José R. de la Cruz
> jrdelacruz at acm.org
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 3:36 AM Sivasubramanian M <6.Internet at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear Sagarika,
>>
>> We are shocked to hear about these attacks. We hope Sri Lanka recovers
>> and becomes stronger.
>>
>> As you say there are pros and cons, but in this emergency situation of
>> potential cross cultural riots, it seems wise to restrain the flow of anger.
>>
>> Sivasubramanian M
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 22, 2019, 11:26 AM Sagarika Wickramasekera <
>> sagarika.wickramasekera at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear All,
>>>
>>> After the tragic incidents happened on  Easter sunday Sri Lanka is again
>>> facing the internet shutdown by the Sri  Lankan Government , Specially all
>>> the social media were shut down fearing misinformation will be spread. But
>>> as general public and internet society members we see the pros and cons of
>>> this situation. Rather than taking preventive steps for state security this
>>> will not be a solution. There were many for and against statements passing
>>> through groups and as isoc we just wait and see.  According to the
>>> governement sources nearly 300 lives lost and around 500 people were
>>> injured.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sagarika Wickramasekera
>>> Asst.Network Manager
>>> SriPalee Campus,
>>> University of Colombo
>>> BSc.(Nat.Sci) CCNA,CCSP,MBA
>>> Past President  ISOC  Sri Lanka chapter
>>> LKiNG Advisory board member
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Southasia-chapters mailing list
>>> Southasia-chapters at elists.isoc.org
>>> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/southasia-chapters
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
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