Internet freedom in India has improved marginally. According to US government-funded NGO Freedom House, internet freedom in India improved by two points - reaching 51 in global rankings.
Freedom House said on Tuesday that the score also reflects the reduced frequency and intensity of internet shutdowns in India.
"Internet freedom in India marginally improved over the last year, following four years of decline, as efforts to bridge the country's digital divides expanded access to the internet. While the government continues to impose internet shutdowns, they have reduced in their frequency and intensity," Freedom on The Net 2022 said.
In 2021, India's score was 49. The report claims that legal challenges to laws that allow the government to censor online content have helped improve India's performance on the index. These include challenges to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
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"However, the state continues to block online content, and Indian internet users risk arrest for posts critical of the government. Misinformation and disinformation are frequently shared online, and journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and members of marginalized groups remain at risk of facing hate speech and online harassment," the report added.
The NGO also found that global internet freedom declined for the 12th consecutive year. Sharpest declines were noted in Russia, Myanmar, Sudan, and Libya. It also mentions China as the world's worst environment for internet freedom for eighth year in a row. In the US, internet freedom improved marginally for the first time in six years.
Also read:?India Enforced Most Internet Shutdowns In 2021, Fourth Year In A Row: Report
What do you think about the state of the internet in 2022? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.
References
Freedom House. (n.d.). Countering an Authoritarian Overhaul of the Internet. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2022/countering-authoritarian-overhaul-internet
Press Trust of India. (2022, October 19). Internet Freedom in India Marginally Improved by 2 Points After Four-Year Decline, Freedom House Says. Gadgets 360. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://gadgets360.com/internet/news/internet-freedom-india-improves-internet-shutdowns-four-year-decline-freedom-house-report-3444641