Looking at how terror outfits across the globe have been using social media as an effective tool to spread their violent messages across the globe, Governments globally have been continuously monitoring and requesting blockade of such sensitive material. And Indian Government is obviously one of the most proactive one at the same.
According to Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Indian Government has blocked close to 500 social media URLs (492 to be precise) in 2015 (till November 30), which is — FYI — a staggering 50 times more as compared to 2014 — when the same blockage number stood at a mere 10.
Informing about Government’s censorship on social media, Minister of Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today,
A total of 13, 10 and 492 URLs of social media websites were blocked in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (till November 30), respectively under Section 69A through the Committee constituted under the rules therein.
Sec 69 A of the Information Technology Act gives Government, the power to block any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource in the interest of Sovereignty and Integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above.
These websites or URLs are identified by CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team – India), which forwards its list to the Indian Government. The compiled list is then forwarded to relevant websites with a request to block — a request which is usually complied by.
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