Outrage over India ban

[Guest guest]

If is so pro free speach in India (as they should be), why do I not feel

that they are actively pro free speach in the USA. It seems like in big

publicity type instances they like to be seen as open and free speach oriented

but, in practice to it's own citizens, I get the distinct feeling it is sorely

lacking. It seems that there is the public image and the private reality. It

gave in to China's request for censoring and not India's but supports hidden

censoring in the USA. Why? Different political perceptions perhaps rather than

principles?

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3148288.stm

 

Monday, 29 September, 2003, 11:49 GMT 12:49 UK

 

Outrage over India ban

 

Thousands of internet users in India have flooded a government website

calling for a ban to be lifted on a discussion group.

 

The ban has resulted in the blocking of all discussion groups hosted

by the internet giant in India, inconveniencing internet users across

the country.

 

The Indian Government ordered the move because of fears the discussion

group, the Kynhun forum, had links with banned separatists.

 

It used new information technology laws to force Indian internet

service providers (ISPs) to block the forum after refused to comply.

 

The government says the Kynhun forum is linked to the outlawed

Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, a minor separatist group in

the north-eastern state of Meghalaya.

 

It said the discussion group " contained material against the

Government of India and the State Government of Meghalaya " .

 

Censorship

 

The order was issued by the Indian Government's Computer Emergency

Response Team (CERT-IN) which holds the power to block internet sites

deemed to be obscene or a national security threat.

 

Under the IT Act, Indian ISPs are liable for all third party data and

content.

 

Since Indian ISPs lack the technical expertise to block a sub-group,

they have responded by blocking Kynhun's IP address, which makes no

distinction between it and other discussion groups.

 

Thousands of Indians have now flooded the CERT-IN's discussion board

asking for the ban to be lifted.

 

Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says the case

highlights the danger of internet censorship.

 

" Blocking a few web pages can result in the blocking of hundreds of

other web pages that have nothing to do with the banned content - this

is a recurring problem on which we must remain very vigilant, "

secretary-general Robert Ménard said.

 

Indian cyberlaw expert, Pawan Duggal, says the government is on very

thin legal ground.

 

" The inherent sovereign power of the government to block can never be

denied, " he told BBC News Online.

 

" But the route they have taken is completely illegal and will be

struck down if challenged in court. "

 

Cyber chaos

 

Despite the legal grey area, the ban has in effect blocked out many

Indians from the discussion groups.

 

Vivek Soley lives in the central Indian town of Indore and maintains

a rs list on .groups.com.

 

" I publish a monthly newsletter which is distributed free of cost to

more than 1,000 rs worldwide.

 

" Suddenly I learn that I can no longer have access to my data.

 

" Several other educational and information groups have also been

blocked all because of one group, " he says.

 

Naveen Rolands' eight-year-old daughter has a through

which she shares photos and accounts of her travels with family and

friends who are abroad.

 

That site is now blocked.

 

" I wonder who the real terrorists are, " he said. " My daughter who uses

to share some photos? Or the bunch of clowns who call

themselves politicians and [bureaucrats] who have given free publicity

to an insurgent group? "

 

" The government should lift this ban before it ruins India's image as

a free country. "

 

Others point out that Kynhun had no more than about 20 rs.

 

" There are over 200 Kashmiri discussion groups with far more volatile

views, " says Pawan Duggal.

 

" With this action the government has opened a huge Pandora's box. "