NEW DELHI , Aug. 5 (UPI) — The Indian government reversed its ban on online porn sites, restoring free access to all but child pornography sites.
The ban last week against 857 identified sites, offering photos and dating services, provoked outrage across the country, but the government said it was merely complying with a Supreme Court order. The court ruled in favor of a petitioner who provided the list of alleged porn sites.
While the lift of the ban was hailed by free speech advocates as well as by some politicians who believe the prohibition was an example of governmental overreach, the demand that child porn be disabled was criticized by the President of the Internet Service Providers of India, Rajesh Chharia.
“How can the government put the responsibility on us to see whether a website carries child pornography or not? Why should an Internet service provider by punished if a website suddenly transmits child pornography?” he told the Times of India.
Telecom and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prassad attempted to deflect criticism that the Indian government attempted what some observers called the country’s “Talibanization” of the Internet. “Our government supports a free media, respects communication on social media and has respected freedom of communication at all times. My government is committed towards freedom on social media and communication on the Internet,” he said.
