Sri Lanka, one of the many places where civil tension is high. A recent outburst of violence led to a state of emergency with special powers being deployed.

What I find interesting is that terminating internet connections was a power that was exercised.

Government officials surmised the rioters were coordinating their attacks at specific locations through social media. Internet access was cut off for the province, and social media including Facebook, WhatsApp and Viber were blocked for the entire country.

When I got my first taste of the internet (early 90s), a lot of promises were being made. At the time, civil liberties were the primary concern for activists. This new tool was going to allow free and un-monitored communication. In turn a new ability ability to be free in our communications and thoughts was going to bring accountable governments and corporations.

I come from the generation of Zimmerman and was an adopter of PHPfone.

A lot has changed in 25 years; that Governments can just turn off parts of the internet is a little disappointing to me.

State of emergency in Sri Lanka remains despite calm returning after violence - Wikinews, the free news source

</a>