The government has decided to put a blanket ban on several websites that allow users to share pornographic content. Department of Telecommunication (DOT) has directed Internet Service Providers to block 39 websites that allow users to share pornographic content.
Most of these websites are web forums, where internet users share images and URLs to download pornographic files. But some of these websites are also image hosts and file hosts, mostly used to store and share files that are non-pornographic.
The DOT order doesn’t give any reason or law under which the websites have been blocked. It says, “It has been decided to immediately block access to the URLs… you are accordingly directed to immediately block access to those URLs.”
As per TOI: A senior DoT official, who pleaded anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said the department was just following the orders issued by cyber security coordination committee and hence could not talk about the specific reasons behind the block.
“In the case of file hosts and image hosts, which people use for various purposes including for storing personal files, the DOT order is a clear overreach,” said Sunil Abraham, director of Centre for Internet and Society (CIS). “Even in the case of pornography, there is nothing in the IT Act that can be used to block websites hosted outside in India.” He added,
There is a possibility that government is interpreting some sections of the IT Act to suit its purpose, but I feel that is wrong and should be challenged in court by ISPs if they care about the rights of their users.”
Rajesh Chharia, president of Internet Service Providers Association of India, said that it was not possible for ISPs to pushback orders from DoT. “We are the licensee and we have to operate under the laws… we can’t pushback,” he said.
But I feel ideally the government should ask the people who have produced objectionable content to remove it from the web if these people are in India… If they are outside, the websites should be blocked at the international cable landing stations. Involving 150-odd ISPs to implement an order is not the right way to do it,” added Chharia.
I have travelled to China and Middle East and have seen that people access pornographic websites using various web tools. In fact, by banning websites the governments have made it more alluring for users to watch and access pornography,” says Abraham. None of the western democracies have explicit ban on pornography.
Is India becoming the next china ? Is it the end of porn and piracy in India ? What do you think ?
