Banning of internet during examinations and security concerns have costed our economy $968mn

Between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, India has suffered almost 22 internet shutdowns that has costed country’s economy almost $968 million. The study conducted by the Brookings Institution, a Washington based nonprofit public policy organisation has also examined the economic impact of 81 cases of internet shutdowns across 18 other countries.

As the internet disruption has costed $2.4 billion worldwide, India has been the most affected followed by a $465 million loss in Saudi Arabia and $320 million in Morocco.

India’s internet disruption is equivalent to Iraq, followed by eight in non-ISIS controlled parts of Syria, six in Pakistan, three in Turkey and two each in Bangladesh, Brazil, North Korea, Uganda and Vietnam.

The internet disruptions were majorly brought in regional or territorial responses to public security concerns, in addition to precautionary measures to prevent the misuse of internet-based social media services via mobile devices during competitive examinations.