Social Networking Sites May Face Ban In India For Obnoxious Contents

Rivalry between Web Giants and Indian Government is on its peak. It has taken a new face as Indian Government has green signaled to the prosecution of “21 Internet sites” which includes 10 foreign websites like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo and YouTube. Even they have also been warned to face the ban, as done in China, if they fail to oblige the government stand over the contents. Indian Government has taken such step after the stiff between IT minister Kapil Sibal and Executive Managers of Google, Facebook and Microsoft on the scrutinizing of comments by users.

However, earlier this week Delhi High Court had already warned various companies to face the blockage of their operations in India only if they fail to check or sensor the objectionable comments. Although, counsel of Facebook and Google has already pointed out that they can’t check or sensor the comments as it is against their global policy. In reply, court has said that they should make different policy for India as such policies need to alter as per geographic location and culture of the country.

Interestingly, Indian Government has sanctioned the court stances by stating that publishing post against religion or against any human is a criminal offence and its comes under section 153-A, 153-B and 295-A of Indian panel code. These three sections of IPC states that if anyone found out promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, language, or intend to outrage any class than they might get sentenced by Court.

“The sanctioning authority has personally gone through the entire records and materials produced before him and after considering and examining the same, he is satisfied that there is sufficient material to proceed against the accused persons under section 153-A, 153-B and 295-A of the IPC,” according to IBN Live.

The matter is still pending in Delhi High Court till the next hearing which is going to take place on March 13, 201. The case was first began when a private Journalist Vinay Rai presented his grieviences against these firms for web casting offensive contents publicly.

The respect and dignity against any human being is prime concern and Government should look for such instant seriously. However, having said that, Government should also evaluate the other side of the coin where thousands on jobs are dependent on such sites. Any volatile attempt to over shadow or block will only only hamper the image of India at global level but also unrest the unemployment situation in India.

In my view, Government should come over personal concerns and objections – if there are few – and find out the WIN-WIN situation by understanding such websites challenges. Remember, we are not China and can’t be !