India Lifts Ban on Online Porn Following Negative Reactions

 

India has lifted the ban on 857 websites that were reportedly blocked on the grounds of “morality and decency” and child pornography. The ban was removed following heavy criticisms and public ridicule by concerned citizens.

 

The controversial reversal was ordered on Wednesday, 5th of August as announced by a government official. The lift in ban excludes sites containing child porn contents.

 

In a statement by N. N. Kaul, spokesman for the government’s telecoms department, he stated that, “ISPs are free to allow access to the previously banned websites, which do not have child pornographic content"

Although the government has cancelled the order, some service providers said they would not lift the block until they have more clarity as the new order puts the onus of them to prevent access to child pornography.

“This is a very vague order. There is no clarity and until we don’t get clear answers, we will keep the websites blocked,” Rajesh Chharia, head of the Internet Service Providers Association of India, told AFP.

Authorities had argued the ban was necessary after India’s top court voiced concern last month about the government’s failure to block access to child pornography on the Internet.