According to reports in Times of India, Government has ordered Department of Telecom to direct ISPs to block 39 porn websites in India. Most of the websites in the list are those where users share pornographic images and files. This order is only for websites and no words on mobile apps hosting porn content.
If a user visits the blocked website, the website will show a message “this website has been blocked until further notice either pursuant to court orders or on the directions issued by the Department of Telecommunications.”
watching adult Porn is not ban in India but watching or distributing child pornography is illegal. Blocked websites are hosted outside India and claims to operate under the 18 USC 2257 rule enforced by the US. According to the rule, websites must retain the record that performers were over 18 years of age while photo or video shoot.
Surprising thing is that DOT order does not specify any reason or law under which the websites have been blocked. And most of the blocked websites are file and image hosting sites. If user use those websites for hosting their files, they may fall into trouble now.
ISPs cannot pushback DoT orders but government should try to remove objectionable content rather than blocking website. This kind of order may block innocent websites just because of users’ fault.
