Govt blocks 857 porn websites; takes Twitterati by storm

The Department of Electronics and Information Technology has asked Internet service providers to take down 857 porn websites, an official said. The government’s decision has not gone down well with Twitterati, with the ban becoming a top talking trend on Monday.

People took to the micro-blogging site to sarcastically suggest the Narendra Modi government about the things it should ban in the coming days. #NextBanIDea, the hashtag used by people, was a top trend till 6 pm.The official, however, said it was a temporary measure till the final orders are pronounced by the top court.

Explaining <g data-gr-id="43">rationale</g> for the decision, a top government official said the government has merely complied with the Supreme Court directive asking for measures to block porn sites, particularly those dealing with child pornography.

The official, however, said that since the issue is very complicated, the case must be heard in detail by involvement of NGOs, civil society, parental groups, child councillors, ISPs and government, and after hearing the views of all, let the court come with some guidelines. There is a view in the government that when proper guidelines on the issue will come, it will create a healthy stabilising factor in the country.

“The government must be away from this whole process (blocking of porn sites). On the issue of national security, terrorism, extremism, communalism, government will have the final say...beyond that the social media divide comes into operation, let there be an ombudsman to take a call, like the TV ombudsman is there,” the official said.

The ombudsman could be a retired SC judge or somebody from the civil society. The official said all the stakeholders can give their views regarding the regulatory mechanism that should be adopted for the cyber content related issues.

The order to block porn websites, however, faced flak over social media with commentators calling it censorship of Internet.  Govt blocks 857 porn websites; plans ombudsman for Net content

On July 8, the government had assured the Supreme Court that all possible measures would be taken to block porn sites. The assurance came after a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu expressed its unhappiness that things have not moved forward and the petitioner in the matter was making all sorts of submissions.

“You have not blocked the websites. The petitioner is saying so much,” the bench, also comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy told Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, said.

The bench had said no interim order can be passed in the matter which has to be examined after going through the counter-affidavit of the government department.

The apex court had earlier asked the Secretary, DoT to file an affidavit on whether the government was competent to issue <g data-gr-id="50">direction</g> to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block porn sites particularly those showing child pornography.