2 weeks ago
Jantar Mantar Protests Show 'Wrong Model' for Internet Governance
Every year, many students in India take a big test called the NEET exam to try to get into medical school.
This year, some question papers were leaked before the test, and the students were very angry.
Thousands of them went to a famous protest place in New Delhi called Jantar Mantar to complain.
The government wanted to keep things calm, so it stopped people from using some internet apps nearby.
One popular app called Telegram, used by 150 million people, was shut down for a little while.
The government also asked a website called GitHub to remove the code for another app called BitChat, which can work without the internet.
Police used cameras with special face-reading software to watch the protesters.
Some experts think the government went too far.
They say stopping the internet did not stop the protests and took away people's right to talk and share news.
The article says India needs better and fairer internet rules that are made with everyone's help.
Protests over leaked NEET exam papers triggered a sweeping government response, including platform bans, internet shutdowns, and surveillance.
Telegram, a messaging app with 150 million users, was temporarily banned in India and ordered to disable its message-editing feature.
A court upheld the Telegram block as the 'least restrictive' measure under the proportionality test from the Anuradha Bhasin ruling.
Mobile internet was suspended around Jantar Mantar, and the government ordered GitHub to remove source code for the offline messaging app BitChat.
Police used AI facial recognition, smart glasses, and the 'Ikshana' vehicle on protesters, admitting no rules govern FRT and an 80% match is considered positive.
Parliament threatened Meta with losing safe harbour after the PM's video was temporarily unavailable; the article urges an IT Act overhaul and enforcement of the DPDP Act.
- Who
- India's government, courts, and police, technology companies such as Telegram, GitHub and Meta, and students protesting at Jantar Mantar over leaked NEET exam papers.
- What
- The government imposed internet shutdowns, a temporary Telegram ban, GitHub takedowns, and AI-powered facial recognition surveillance during the NEET protests, drawing criticism of India's internet governance model.
- Where
- India, primarily Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, with actions affecting global platforms such as Telegram, GitHub and Meta.
- When
- No exact dates are given; the events took place during the protests triggered by the NEET exam crisis.
- Why
- The protests were triggered by NEET exam paper leaks; the government said its digital measures served public safety and national security, while critics argue they were disproportionate and ineffective.
Digital rights advocates
Government and courts
Platform-wide ban on Telegram
Digital rights advocates
Blocking an entire platform used by 150 million people over misuse by a small fraction is disproportionate and ineffective, since users quickly moved to VPNs and other apps; it sets a dangerous precedent.
Government and courts
The temporary ban was a lawful, 'least restrictive' measure needed to protect public order, and the court endorsed it under the Anuradha Bhasin proportionality test.
Internet shutdowns and BitChat removal
Digital rights advocates
Internet access supports fundamental rights during protests, there is no evidence that shutdowns maintain public order, and removing BitChat's code creates security risks while hurting innovation.
Government and courts
Blocking apps capable of being misused and suspending mobile internet around the protest site was a procedural public-safety and national-security response.
Facial recognition surveillance of protesters
Digital rights advocates
Unregulated live facial recognition with an 80% match threshold endangers privacy; European law even prohibits police use of live FRT in public spaces.
Government and courts
Police used the 'Ikshana' vehicle and smart glasses with AI facial recognition to match protesters' faces against a police database during the unrest.
Key facts
- Protest trigger
- NEET exam paper leaks
- Protest site
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Banned platform
- Telegram (temporary ban; message-editing disabled) — 150 million users
- Court ruling
- Blocking upheld as 'least restrictive' under the Anuradha Bhasin proportionality test
- Surveillance tools
- AI facial recognition, smart glasses, 'Ikshana' mobile surveillance vehicle
- FRT rules
- Police admit no rules apply; no privacy impact assessment; 80% match considered positive
- BitChat action
- Government ordered GitHub to remove BitChat source code repositories
- Data protection law
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act enacted but not fully in force
Sources
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