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Mum’s the (online) word

Speaking of threats to freedoms from government, the “Information Technology (Electronic Service Delivery) Rules, 2011” describe what content may not be published online, in terms so vague that anything could be considered to be in violation of these rules. Medianama has commentary:

… these rules give the Indian government the ability to gag free speech, and block any website it deems fit, without publicly disclosing why sites have been blocked, who took the decision to block it, and just as importantly, providing adequate recourse to blogs, sites and online and mobile businesses, for getting the block removed. These rules are applicable to intermediaries, through which access to content will be controlled.

Examples include forbidding blasphemous content without a blasphemy law in place, having ISPs remove content within 36 hours of receipt of a complaint (without proof of violation), and forcing disclosure of private information to any agency dealing with ‘cyber security activity’.