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| A screengrab of an AIB video - India bans porn. The actor in the image is presumably not a Reddit user |
Staff correspondent, August 1, 2015, NewsCrunch
A discussion thread on community site Reddithas begun to report that users are not able to access porn sites across cities and ISPs in
There has been no formal announcement from the government; but the extensive complaints, which are pouring in, suggest that an informal official order is possibly in place to get ISPs to block adult sites.
Reddit users reported that porn sites have been blocked on internet connections provided by MTNL Mumbai, BSNL, Vodafone and ACT. The response to the adult site URLs have been varied: some are getting blank pages, some messages such as 404 or “Directory doesn't exist”.
A Reddit user stated that he got a message saying the site had been blocked by the 'Competent Authority'.
After the discussion flared up on Reddit, many tested independently and found that there was merit in the complaints.
Legally India stated that inNew Delhi , on a Spectranet connection, 11 out of the 13 porn sites it tested were not accessible.
However, it could access two websites, which were functioning normally. Many Reddit users of Airtel and Tikona reported that all of their favourite porn sites could be accessed.
The mixed user experience in accessing porn suggests a ban that is being informally placed, spreading from ISP to ISP, with some of them possibly showing some resistance.
If the government hand is behind the porn ban, its legal authority to do so would be suspect. The Information Technology Act of India makes watching or possessing pornographic materials legal. It only bans child pornography, distribution and production of X-rated materials.
But the government has spoken at different voices at different times.
In April last year, it filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court saying banning porn in the country was not feasible. However, in November, Telecom & IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Although porn is legal in other countries, it needs to be viewed in the context of Indian culture and moral obligation towards society."
Legally India stated that in
However, it could access two websites, which were functioning normally. Many Reddit users of Airtel and Tikona reported that all of their favourite porn sites could be accessed.
The mixed user experience in accessing porn suggests a ban that is being informally placed, spreading from ISP to ISP, with some of them possibly showing some resistance.
If the government hand is behind the porn ban, its legal authority to do so would be suspect. The Information Technology Act of India makes watching or possessing pornographic materials legal. It only bans child pornography, distribution and production of X-rated materials.
But the government has spoken at different voices at different times.
In April last year, it filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court saying banning porn in the country was not feasible. However, in November, Telecom & IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Although porn is legal in other countries, it needs to be viewed in the context of Indian culture and moral obligation towards society."
The Supreme Court is hearing a PIL filed by lawyer Kamlesh Vasvani seeking a ban on porn as it leads to "activities like rape, harassment, molestations of women."
Recently, CJI Dattu, while hearing the case, observed that people watching porn privately within the four walls of the home could not be stopped.
While the hearing in the case continues, the government seems to have jumped the gun and banned the porn.
Recently, CJI Dattu, while hearing the case, observed that people watching porn privately within the four walls of the home could not be stopped.
While the hearing in the case continues, the government seems to have jumped the gun and banned the porn.