ABSTRACT

The era of millennial revolves around the dimensions of social media. Whether it is shopping or
getting in touch with an old friend, meeting new people, getting news updates, expressing political
opinions, spreading information about a cause that needs to be addressed it's all done through the
platform of social media. Not only children or teens are addicted to it but the middle-aged and
elderly are also finding it the best way to engage. People are easily able to express themselves on
social media, even those who shy away from doing so in person. Not only sharing opinions or
shopping, the platform of social media has become a way of earning livelihood for many. More and
more people mainly youngsters are being drawn towards the concept of vlogging and making
money online by doing challenges, showcasing their personal life, collaborating with brands etc.
Amongst all of this exists a dark side of social media that involves people who misuse it for so
many reasons. They publicly humiliate others while sitting behind their computer or phone screens,
spread fake news to accomplish a political agenda or defame someone.

There are 195 countries in the world today out of which 167 countries are democratic. With the
recent turn of events globally many countries questioned their democratic status. The government's
interference with users activity on their social media accounts and having access to this information
is the key concern expressed by the users. Another main issue raised by the users being that the
government alters the truth by imposing certain ban only in a time of crisis for the government
mainly when the citizens of the country do not agree with the government seems more like a
political tactic or agenda than regulation. The users feel that this is a technique of the government to
stop or interfere with people's ability to reach out to a larger number of people and manipulate the
truth, whereas according to the government it is to protect the people from greater harm and stop the
online activity of nuisance creators.

The key questions that arise in this regard are what has been the pattern of the governmental
interference into the online right to free speech of its citizens in some selected jurisdictions in
Europe, Asia and Africa? For this, the Freedom on the Net reports of 2015-2019 submitted by the
International NGO Freedom House will be relied on.
AIM
Through this paper we aim to cover all the grey areas and figure out how sometimes the thin line
between being anti-government and anti-country are crossed by the users and the government both
and whether the internet ban can be justified and if yes, under what circumstances.

OBJECTIVE
1. How many times is it safe to say that the so called ban is more of a regulation to provide for a
safer environment both in reality and virtual reality?
2. How many times is it that such ban is to manipulate the truth or achieve some political agenda?
3. How is it that according to the users the internet ban is all a part of the scheming of the
government and according to the government these regulatory schemes are not a violation of
privacy and for the larger good of the public?

METHODOLOGY
This paper has taken various references from articles and blogs written on Internet Data policies and
how they have been shaped recently. It has also taken special references to very publicised and
global case laws as well as recent amendments that have set a standard and a benchmark for present
consumer data privacy laws. The paper has taken into consideration the present Internet regulations
and Data Privacy laws and how they vary from country to country especially from first world
countries to third world countries.