BHUTAN-Right to Internet in Hermits Kingdom

Bhutan was the last country to allow internet and television in 1999. Today after two decades it is one of the most wired countries though the rates are highest. But apart from the spread and the cost, a unique demand has come up in the once Hermits Kingdom- freedom of internet!

The Article 7 of Bhutan Constitution recognises the right to life, liberty, security, freedom of thought, right to information and, the freedom of press, including electronic; and right to vote as the fundamental right. In the 21st century, all these rights are directly affected by the internet and how we interact in the virtual world. Hence some argue that the right to the internet should be a fundamental right.

In 1999, at the celebration of the fourth king’s Silver Jubilee, Bhutan became the last country on earth to legalize television and internet. Cell phones came in 2003. Today, Bhutan is proportionately one of the most wired countries on earth. In contrast with the knotty, bureaucratic process of upgrading systems and infrastructure in other countries, the kingdom has leapfrogged the technological issues other countries faced in early decades of telecom and computing.

The first four kings of the nation deliberately kept Bhutan “undeveloped”- so much so that it was termed the “Hermit Kingdom.” Environmental concerns and cultural protections are a priority. But currently governed by the fifth king of its monarchy, who is young and Oxford-educated, Bhutan has embraced technology. The government control of the introduction of all technological infrastructure and activities streamlined the implantation of technology. In practical terms, this means that the country emerged on the tech scene in the internet age, with no legacy tech infrastructure or behavior, unlike its behemoth neighbors India and China. This means no copper to replace with fiber, no telecom wars (Druknet is the only Internet provider). More than 87 percent of inhabitants have a cell phone, even though 70 percent are subsistence farmers.

GNH was, until 1999, a justification for not allowing technology. Today, the justification has turned the other direction: Bhutan’s national policy statement is “An ICT enabled, Knowledge-Based Society as a Foundation for Gross National Happiness.” On the ideological level, this means that the government made the call that the benefit of having the internet outweighs the cost, not just economically but on a larger scale. In some sense, the decision to usher in the internet seems unavoidable and positive as a development: internet is a vehicle for education, for political activism, and advocacy for rights of underserved communities and groups like minorities and women.

But like all technology, the revolution has a dark side too. The internet is perpetuating structural inequalities in Bhutan. Traditionally, women in Bhutan dropped out of school early. They inherit the family property, and it was imperative that they learn how to run the farm. But boys could afford the time to travel significant distances to attend school. Hence in the case of Bhutan, the last decade or two of “IT development” has not necessarily worked as a positive force for women or disadvantaged communities.

Foreseeing the possible digital divide if the internet is unaffordable, the King had warned that “unequal access to knowledge and technology will create greater disparities in education, opportunities and wealth.” Therefore, institutions like Bhutan Information and Communication Authority, Ministry of Information and Communications must review the existing practices of these telecos. Our telecos must stop possible exploitation of consumers and instead make the internet affordable and reliable in this century.

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reported that in 2020, Bhutan remains one of the most expensive in terms of affordability of internet, both mobile and broadband. ITU states that “affordability will remain a key barrier to connectivity, especially in lower income countries and in lower income segments of the population in countries around the world.”

The two telecos of Bhutan in recent times have been vigorously pursuing the sale of a few brands of their choice and offer unlimited late- night data on mobile phones. These schemes are without doubt targeted to cater to our young people and most users are younger people. But psychological paediatricians have described that “since the child’s brain is still in the development stage, exposure to blue light emanating from cell phone or laptop screens produced by smartphones and various other gadgets disturb their internal body clock to a huge extent.” Various research indicates that sleep deprivation of children will cause irreversible damage to their brains, affect appetite, cause mood swings, depression, irritability, and inability to focus, obesity and aggressiveness. Further, such unlimited late-night internet can violate numerous other aspects of life like health and the physical environment.

Source: Himalayan News Chronicle