Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 3: The administration of Jammu and Kashmir has sought help from an American company to block social media in the newly created Union Territory (UT), where people were currently using VPN apps to access these sites on 2G mobile network. The Jammu and Kashmir police last month lodged an FIR against locals for using social media platforms on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Official sources told that the UT administration has approached an American company, Cisco Systems, for completely blocking social media sites, including Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, in J&K. 'Cisco develops, manufactures and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment and other high-technology services and products,' they added.
The development comes in the backdrop of people accessing social media sites, despite a ban by the administration, through VPN apps in J&K, where high speed internet and broadband service remained suspended since August 5. Mobile internet and broadband service of all Cellular companies was suspended in the Kashmir valley on August 5, 2019, when the Centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A besides dividing the state into two Union Territories (UTs).
However, 2G mobile internet service was resumed on January 25 while high speed internet and broadband remained suspended. The social media sites also remained banned and government had directed people to assess only white listed sites.
It was in the last week of August that landlines were restored to subscribers connected with Barzulla and Sonawar telephone exchanges. Landlines phones of subscribers, including all media organizations, from main BSNL telephone exchange were restored only on September 5.
Meanwhile, the post-paid mobile phone service was restored on October 14 while the SMS service for BSNL started from December 31 midnight in the valley, where the pre-paid mobile service was on January 19 restored after remaining suspended for 168 days. |
