Internet freedom Declining in India : Report

India overtook the US to become the world's second largest internet consumer base behind China last year.
●    Internet freedom has declined slightly in the country.
●    According to the “Freedom on the Net 2016” report by Freedom House, a US-based think tank, both government and non-governmental entities made efforts to bridge the digital divide in India. 
●    After effective digital campaigning, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) introduced strong net neutrality protections in 2016, prohibiting differential pricing by service providers for different content or applications.
●    Overall, internet freedom around the world declined in 2016 for the sixth consecutive year. 
●    Two-thirds of all internet users — 67 percent — live in countries where criticism of the government, military or ruling family are subject to censorship.
●    According to the report, social media users face unprecedented penalties, as authorities in 38 countries made arrests based on social media posts over the past year.