Myanmar’s Internet Shutdown Is an Act of ‘Vast Self-Harm’
55 years, 3 months ago

Myanmar’s Internet Shutdown Is an Act of ‘Vast Self-Harm’

Wired  

From June 2019 until this February, 1.4 million people in Myanmar's Rakhine state dealt with the longest government-mandated internet shutdown in history, targeted at the Rohingya ethnic minority that makes up most of Rakhine's population. Over the past two months the military junta has continued to use the mechanisms for digital control put in place by Myanmar's previous regimes, escalating platform-blocking and digital censorship across Myanmar and initiating different combinations of mobile data and wireless broadband outages, including various overnight connectivity blackouts for 46 consecutive days. In addition to stifling speech, communication, and digital rights, the indiscriminate internet blackouts are destroying Myanmar's economy, halting pandemic-related remote schooling, and disrupting health care. In preparation for the possibility of a total, nationwide internet shutdown, Free Expression Myanmar's Spencer says that some activists scrambled to install as many physical internet hookups as possible, so communities could retain some small amount of shared connectivity.

Digital Rights Myanmar Physical Internet  vast  wireless  physical  internet  myanmars  myanmar  connectivity  mobile  digital  rights  act  shutdown  selfharm

History of this topic

India sole nation to curb Internet over communal unrest in 2023-24
1 month ago

India sole nation to curb Internet over communal unrest in 2023-24

The Hindu  

Globally, there were 88 Internet shutdowns due to communal violence in 2023 and 2024 and all of them were in India. In fact, nearly 95% of all Internet shutdowns ordered by the state due to communal violence since 2018 have occurred in India, says a report by Access Now, a digital advocacy group. Chart 1 shows the number of Internet …

Blunt weapon: On Internet shutdowns
1 month, 1 week ago

Blunt weapon: On Internet shutdowns

The Hindu  

The number of Internet shutdowns in India was slightly lower in 2024 than in 2023, according to the Software Freedom Law Center, India’s annual report. A separate report by the web rights advocacy, Access Now, shows that India continues to lead globally in the number of government-ordered Internet shutdowns. A closer examination of the shutdowns imposed even over the last …

India ranks 2nd in number of internet shutdowns in 2024, top among democracies: Report
1 month, 1 week ago

India ranks 2nd in number of internet shutdowns in 2024, top among democracies: Report

Live Mint  

India ranked second in terms of internet shutdowns in 2024, as Myanmar ranked first with just one more shutdown than its neighbour, according to a report by Access Now titled ‘Emboldened offenders, endangered communities: internet shutdowns in 2024.’ India has consistently ranked first since 2018. Myanmar imposed 85 internet shutdowns in 2024, followed by India with 84 shutdowns, while Pakistan …

Internet shutdowns highest in 2024 globally, India tops in government-ordered curbs; Indian Navy’s MARCOS join rescue operations at Telangana tunnel collapse site, and more in The Hindu’s top news of
1 month, 1 week ago

Internet shutdowns highest in 2024 globally, India tops in government-ordered curbs; Indian Navy’s MARCOS join rescue operations at Telangana tunnel collapse site, and more in The Hindu’s top news of

The Hindu  

Number of Internet shutdowns highest in 2024 globally, India tops in govt-ordered curbs India did not impose the highest number of Internet shutdowns last year, with Myanmar seeing one additional disruption in 2024, according to a report by advocacy body Access Now. Telangana tunnel collapse: Indian Navy’s MARCOS join rescue operation Along with experts from L&T and IIT Madras, Marine …

Number of Internet shutdowns highest in 2024 globally, India tops in govt-ordered curbs
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Number of Internet shutdowns highest in 2024 globally, India tops in govt-ordered curbs

The Hindu  

India did not impose the highest number of Internet shutdowns last year, with Myanmar seeing one additional disruption in 2024, according to a report by advocacy body Access Now. However, the number of shutdowns imposed by the government in charge — the Union and State Governments here, and the military junta in Myanmar — is still higher in India. 296 …

India didn’t lead world in internet shutdowns in 2024: Access Now report
1 month, 1 week ago

India didn’t lead world in internet shutdowns in 2024: Access Now report

Hindustan Times  

For the first time since 2018, India in 2024 did not lead the world in internet shutdown orders in a year. According to nonprofit digital rights advocacy group Access Now, Myanmar ordered the highest number of shutdowns at 85, edging out India that enforced 84 similar orders last year. The total number of internet shutdowns across the world have increased …

Conflicts trigger globe’s highest rate of internet shutdowns in 2024: NGO
1 month, 1 week ago

Conflicts trigger globe’s highest rate of internet shutdowns in 2024: NGO

Al Jazeera  

Wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar among those spurring ‘digital violence’. There were 296 internet shutdowns documented across 54 countries last year, surpassing the 283 shutdowns in 39 countries in 2023, says the report by Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition, published on Monday. Conflict remained the leading cause of internet shutdowns for the second consecutive year, according to the …

Internet shut down 60 times in 2024, fewer than last year
3 months ago

Internet shut down 60 times in 2024, fewer than last year

The Hindu  

India saw the fewest number of mobile internet shutdowns in eight years in 2024, rounding out a period where the country became the most frequent deployer in the world of the measure, according to data from the Internet Shutdowns Tracker maintained by the Software Freedom Law Centre, India. In the last month, shutdowns were imposed in Ambala, Haryana, as a …

Mobile internet shutdown extended in Manipur's 9 districts till December 3
4 months ago

Mobile internet shutdown extended in Manipur's 9 districts till December 3

India Today  

The Manipur government on Sunday extended the suspension of mobile internet for two days in nine districts of the state till December 3. "The state government, after reviewing the prevailing law and order situation and its correlation with the general operation of internet services, has decided to continue suspension of mobile internet and mobile data services, including VSATs and VPN …

Indian state imposes curfew and shuts internet after fresh wave of ethnic clashes
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Indian state imposes curfew and shuts internet after fresh wave of ethnic clashes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Indian authorities on Tuesday imposed …

No study done to calculate economic, social impact of internet shutdowns: Minister
7 months, 3 weeks ago

No study done to calculate economic, social impact of internet shutdowns: Minister

Hindustan Times  

The central government has not conducted any assessment to gauge the economic and social impacts of internet shutdowns in India, Union minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani informed the Lok Sabha in a written response on Wednesday. In another response to a question by BJP MP Sudheer Gupta and Congress MP Chavan Vasantrao Balwantrao, the minister said that …

Bangladesh to restore internet services amid unrest; 173 dead, over 2,500 held so far: What is happening now?
8 months, 1 week ago

Bangladesh to restore internet services amid unrest; 173 dead, over 2,500 held so far: What is happening now?

Live Mint  

Bangladesh will restore its broadband internet services Tuesday evening after a five-day shutdown, the country's telecoms minister said. The decision to restore the broadband internet came after a Bangladeshi student group leading demonstrations suspended protests on Monday for 48 hours. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government had scrapped quotas in 2018 that had reserved 56 percent of state jobs for …

Internet and mobile services cut off in Bangladesh amid violent protests that have killed 28 people
8 months, 1 week ago

Internet and mobile services cut off in Bangladesh amid violent protests that have killed 28 people

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Internet and mobile services were …

Myanmar’s embattled military government cracks down on free flow of news by blocking VPNs
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Myanmar’s embattled military government cracks down on free flow of news by blocking VPNs

Associated Press  

BANGKOK — Myanmar’s military government has launched a major effort to block free communication on the Internet, shutting off access to virtual private networks, or VPNs, which can be used to circumvent blockages of banned websites and services. Operators of Myanmar’s top telecom companies MPT, Ooredoo, Atom and the military-backed Mytel, as well as fiber internet services, told The Associated …

Digital Darkness: India leads the world in internet shutdowns
10 months ago

Digital Darkness: India leads the world in internet shutdowns

The Hindu  

Published : May 30, 2024 18:36 IST - 1 MIN READ For the past six years, India has led the world when it comes to Internet shutdowns. Over 500 shutdowns just in the last five years were recorded, according to a report released by Access Now, a global non-profit organisation focusing on digital civil rights. Titled “Shrinking Democracy, Growing Violence”, …

India leads in global internet shutdowns for 6th year in a row: Report
10 months, 2 weeks ago

India leads in global internet shutdowns for 6th year in a row: Report

Hindustan Times  

India logged 116 instances of internet shutdowns in 2023, accounting for 41% of the 283 globally, according to data analysed by Access Now, a not-for profit group that focusses on digital rights. Apart from blocking certain platforms across the country, 13 states in India saw local or statewide internet shutdowns. “Authorities have leveraged internet shutdowns as a blatant tool for …

Measuring internet freedom in India in the last 10 years
11 months, 4 weeks ago

Measuring internet freedom in India in the last 10 years

The Hindu  

In the Freedom Journal series, we look at how freedoms in the political, economic, digital and media landscape have evolved in the last decade. The Supreme Court of India, in the landmark Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India case, reiterated that internet shutdowns violate fundamental rights to freedom of expression, and that shutdowns which last indefinitely are unconstitutional. This, however, …

Nuh Violence: How internet shutdowns work in India? Explained
1 year, 8 months ago

Nuh Violence: How internet shutdowns work in India? Explained

Live Mint  

Haryana Nuh Violence: Mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended till August 2 in the Nuh district of Haryana after communal clashes erupted between a group of young men and Vishwa Hindu Parishad during a procession on Monday. Usually, an internet shutdown is ordered as an administrative measure across India for various reasons including communal tensions, etc. In general, an …

Most internet shutdowns in last 3 years to curb protests: Report
1 year, 9 months ago

Most internet shutdowns in last 3 years to curb protests: Report

Hindustan Times  

Eighteen Indian states shut down the internet at least once in the three years between January 2020 to December 2022, the Internet Freedom Foundation and Human Rights Watch noted, highlighting that local authorities used the shutdowns to prevent or in response to protests in 57 instances, to prevent cheating in school examinations or in exams for government jobs in 37 …

Modi government’s internet blackouts hurt the poor and curbed job opportunities, HRW says
1 year, 9 months ago

Modi government’s internet blackouts hurt the poor and curbed job opportunities, HRW says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than 100 internet shutdowns …

DC Edit | Manipur's Net shutdown is excessive and uncalled for
1 year, 9 months ago

DC Edit | Manipur's Net shutdown is excessive and uncalled for

Deccan Chronicle  

One of the easiest routes governments and security agencies take these days to curb popular unrest or disturbances is to shut down Internet services for an infinite period. While deciding a case against the Union government suspending the Internet in Jammu and Kashmir, the court had held that usage of the Internet is a fundamental right under Article 19 of …

Patralekha Chatterjee | Shutting down Internet: Govts need to do rethink
1 year, 10 months ago

Patralekha Chatterjee | Shutting down Internet: Govts need to do rethink

Deccan Chronicle  

Governments across the world are increasingly resorting to Internet shutdowns to stabilise potentially volatile situations, quell protests, and even to deal with problems like cheating in examinations. According to digital rights group Top10VPN, which researches the economic impacts of Internet shutdowns, in 2023 alone, 46 Internet shutdowns in 10 countries cost $761 million till date. In the Northeast itself, the …

How, and Why, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Shut Down the Internet
1 year, 11 months ago

How, and Why, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan Shut Down the Internet

The Diplomat  

In 2022, most of the countries in Central Asia deliberately disrupted access to the internet in instances of public protests, other forms of open public criticism of government authority, and civil disobedience, citing national security and public safety concerns as justification. Compared to Kazakhstan, the Turkmen government has continuously pursued rigid and centralized control of the internet through a bundle …

India leads in Internet shutdowns, but lacks tool to assess impact - The Hindu
2 years ago

India leads in Internet shutdowns, but lacks tool to assess impact - The Hindu

The Hindu  

Earlier this month, the Punjab government suspended mobile Internet and SMS services in the State for more than four days as it launched an operation to arrest pro-Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh. Map 1 The map shows the State-wise instances of Internet shutdowns recorded between 2012 and March 2023, according to SFLC Chart appears incomplete? It came down heavily on “Internet …

India leads world in cutting internet access for 5th year in a row: report
2 years, 1 month ago

India leads world in cutting internet access for 5th year in a row: report

The Hindu  

India imposed by far the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2022, internet advocacy watchdog Access Now said on February 28, as the country topped the list for the fifth successive year. Out of 187 internet shutdowns globally recorded by Access Now, 84 took place in India, including 49 in Kashmir, the New York-based digital rights advocacy …

Internet shutdown: Nearly half of global blackouts happened in THIS country
2 years, 1 month ago

Internet shutdown: Nearly half of global blackouts happened in THIS country

Live Mint  

Digital rights advocacy group Access Now's 2022 report, which covers total blackouts, the suspension of particular phone networks or social media apps and the slowing down of internet connections, was compiled using technical evaluations, news articles and personal testimony. Out of 187 internet shutdowns globally recorded by Access Now, 84 took place in India, including 49 in Kashmir, the watchdog …

In 2022, the world saw 187 internet shutdowns – 84 by India alone
2 years, 1 month ago

In 2022, the world saw 187 internet shutdowns – 84 by India alone

Al Jazeera  

More than half of those shutdowns were recorded in Kashmir as India leads the Access Now list for a fifth consecutive year. These were the findings of a report released on Tuesday by digital rights watchdog Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition, which said governments are using internet shutdowns as “weapons of control and shields of impunity”. pic.twitter.com/gQzIUaYFo2 — Access …

'The internet is dead in Iran': Protests targeted by shutdown
2 years, 6 months ago

'The internet is dead in Iran': Protests targeted by shutdown

The Hindu  

Saeed Souzangar, who runs a technology company in Tehran, is adept at navigating frequent internet disruptions to ensure his business can keep operating, but even he has been thrown by nationwide communications outages this month. Iran was one of the countries with the highest number of internet shutdowns last year, with authorities pulling the plug to clamp down on dissent, …

Manipur Internet Shutdown: Assam MP Writes to Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
2 years, 7 months ago

Manipur Internet Shutdown: Assam MP Writes to Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

News 18  

As Manipur faces a blanket ban on mobile data and internet services, following the incident of arson in Bishnupur district, Assam Congress’s Member of Parliament Pradyut Bordoloi raised the issue with the Union minister. Meanwhile, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur has announced an indefinite economic blockade since Friday, leaving hundreds of heavy vehicles ferrying essential commodities stranded on NH-2 …

Internet Shutdowns Are Increasing In India: 10 Ways To Survive Without Internet Suddenly
2 years, 9 months ago

Internet Shutdowns Are Increasing In India: 10 Ways To Survive Without Internet Suddenly

News 18  

Shutting down mobile internet has become the first step for governments across India whenever there is some kind of violence or even during any major examination. Always carry sufficient cash No matter how many mobile wallets you use or you may believe in completely relying on UPI but when there’s no internet, cash rules. Also, it is a bad idea …

Internet shutdowns can harm democracies, says UN
2 years, 9 months ago

Internet shutdowns can harm democracies, says UN

India Today  

The United Nations has called on countries to stop imposing Internet shutdowns, warning of dire consequences. The UN rights office have said that if they keep imposing internet shutdowns or disruptions they will have to face deadly consequences. The report said the Internet shutdowns would impact the lives and human rights of millions of people. The UN rights chief Michelle …

Internet shutdowns bleeding businesses, hitting country's image
3 years, 3 months ago

Internet shutdowns bleeding businesses, hitting country's image

Business Standard  

On September 26 this year, over 10 districts of Rajasthan, including the capital city of Jaipur, faced a dawn to dusk internet shutdown. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has recently noted that internet shutdowns, often imposed in an arbitrary manner, have led to huge economic losses, untold suffering for the public, and ‘severe reputational damage’ to …

Mobile internet disruptions seen in Iran amid water protests
3 years, 8 months ago

Mobile internet disruptions seen in Iran amid water protests

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Mobile phone internet service in Iran is being disrupted a week into protests in the country’s southwest over water shortages, a monitoring group said Thursday, unrest that has seen at least three people killed. Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org attributed part of the disruption to “state information controls or targeted internet shutdowns.” It identified the outages …

Report says Myanmar internet a 'virtual battlefield'
3 years, 10 months ago

Report says Myanmar internet a 'virtual battlefield'

The Independent  

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Myanmar’s military rulers are seeking to limit access …

Families plan funerals, children reported among Myanmar dead
4 years ago

Families plan funerals, children reported among Myanmar dead

Al Jazeera  

Monitoring group says three children among 74 killed on Sunday, with 20 more deaths reported on Monday. The families of dozens of people killed during anti-coup protests in Myanmar were preparing to hold funerals after a night of candle-lit vigils as a monitoring group said that three children were among the dead on Sunday and at least 20 more people …

Why is Myanmar’s military blocking the internet?
4 years ago

Why is Myanmar’s military blocking the internet?

Al Jazeera  

Generals have banned Facebook and other popular platforms and imposed an internet blackout for the past 18 nights. Human rights groups and international business organisations came together to condemn the military government’s moves to legally restrict the internet via a draft Cybersecurity Bill and a series of amendments to the Electronic Transactions Law. “The draft cybersecurity law would hand a …

What Life Is Like Under Myanmar's Internet Shutdown
4 years, 1 month ago

What Life Is Like Under Myanmar's Internet Shutdown

Wired  

Rumors of a coup were spreading before the military acted. Sophie*, an American software developer, was at home with her young son and her husband Aung*, a union worker and Myanmar national, when Myanmar’s military took control in the early hours of February 1. As the nation’s military leaders arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, president Win Myint, and other senior …

Raids and internet blackouts: Myanmar’s military vs protesters
4 years, 1 month ago

Raids and internet blackouts: Myanmar’s military vs protesters

Al Jazeera  

Myanmar’s military is battling a civil disobedience movement that is growing online. A civil disobedience movement is growing in Myanmar; young people are using social media to organise and keep citizens and the outside world informed. Contributors: Thin Lei Win – Founder and former chief correspondent, Myanmar Now Aye Min Thant – Myanmar-based journalist Manny Maung – Researcher, Human Rights …

Hackers Target Myanmar Govt Websites in Coup Protest
4 years, 1 month ago

Hackers Target Myanmar Govt Websites in Coup Protest

News 18  

Hackers attacked military-run government websites in Myanmar Thursday as a cyberwar erupted after authorities shut down the internet for a fourth straight night. A group called Myanmar Hackers disrupted multiple government websites including the Central Bank, Myanmar Military’s propaganda page, state-run broadcaster MRTV, the Port Authority, Food and Drug Administration. The move comes a day after thousands of people rallied …

UN warns Myanmar military as generals defend power grab
4 years, 1 month ago

UN warns Myanmar military as generals defend power grab

Al Jazeera  

Military insists fraud in November polls without offering proof as it accuses protesters of inciting violence. The United Nations has warned the Myanmar military of “severe consequences” if it responds harshly to the protests that have taken place across the country following the February 1 coup, as the military rulers justified anew on Tuesday the seizure of power from civilian …

Myanmar protests resume, internet restored as military circles
4 years, 1 month ago

Myanmar protests resume, internet restored as military circles

Al Jazeera  

Armoured vehicles on streets of Yangon as people continue protests for restoration of civilian government. Pro-democracy protests resumed in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, on Monday two weeks after the military seized power in a coup, despite a heavy military presence that has increased concern of a crackdown. Detaining NLD founder and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as well as …

Myanmar rattled by army movements, expected internet cutoff
4 years, 1 month ago

Myanmar rattled by army movements, expected internet cutoff

India TV News  

Sightings of armored personnel carriers in Myanmar’s biggest city and leaked orders of an impending internet shutdown raised political tensions late Sunday, after vast numbers of people around the country flouted orders against demonstrations to protest the military’s seizure of power. The military seized power on Feb. 1, detaining the country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of …

Will internet shutdowns become the norm?
4 years, 1 month ago

Will internet shutdowns become the norm?

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups criticise increasing use of online disruptions to suppress dissent. Internet shutdowns are not new, but rights activists say governments are using the tactic more often to suppress dissent. Myanmar’s army has routinely cut online access since it overthrew the country’s democratically elected government in a February 1 coup. Twitter, meanwhile, is refusing the Indian government’s order to remove …

Digital siege: Internet cuts become favored tool of regimes
4 years, 1 month ago

Digital siege: Internet cuts become favored tool of regimes

Associated Press  

LONDON — When army generals in Myanmar staged a coup last week, they briefly cut internet access in an apparent attempt to stymie protests. Shutdowns can range from all-encompassing internet blackouts to blocking social media platforms or severely throttling internet speeds, the report said. It’s a familiar move by Myanmar’s government, which carried out one of the world’s longest internet …

Digital siege: Internet cuts become favored tool of regimes
4 years, 1 month ago

Digital siege: Internet cuts become favored tool of regimes

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Shutdowns can range from all-encompassing internet blackouts to blocking social media platforms or severely …

The cost of Internet shutdowns
4 years, 1 month ago

The cost of Internet shutdowns

The Hindu  

The movement led by farmers against the Central government’s agricultural laws has become a part of our national and international discourse. A principal concern among these has been the recurrent shutdowns, ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, of Internet services around many border areas of NCR since the unruly incidents on January 26. Many parts of Jammu and Kashmir …

Internet Blackout Fails to Dim Protests as Thousands Rally Again in Myanmar Against Military Coup
4 years, 1 month ago

Internet Blackout Fails to Dim Protests as Thousands Rally Again in Myanmar Against Military Coup

News 18  

Thousands of anti-coup protesters in Myanmar poured back onto the streets Sunday, as an internet blackout failed to stifle growing outrage at the military’s ouster of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “I completely despise the military coup and I am not afraid of a crackdown,” said Kyi Phyu Kyaw, a 20-year-old university student. “#Myanmar’s military and police must ensure …

Days After Blocking Facebook and Instagram, Myanmar's Army Has Now Blocked Twitter
4 years, 1 month ago

Days After Blocking Facebook and Instagram, Myanmar's Army Has Now Blocked Twitter

India Today  

Myanmar has been in the news lately following the military coup in the Southeast Asian country that seized power from the democratically elected government. Shortly after blocking Facebook apparently to silence the voice of the people, the government has again ordered that Instagram and Twitter be blocked “until further notice.” Before being blocked, Facebook users had been reportedly using the …

Myanmar Military Shut Down Internet as Thousands Take to Streets Protesting Against Coup
4 years, 1 month ago

Myanmar Military Shut Down Internet as Thousands Take to Streets Protesting Against Coup

News 18  

Myanmar’s junta shut down the internet in the country on Saturday as thousands of people took to the streets of Yangon to denounce this week’s coup and demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Let’s fight until the last minute for our future.” Myanmar civil society organisations appealed to internet providers and mobile networks to challenge the …

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