Google and Tech Companies Fight Against New India Censorship Rule

The Indian government has issued new regulations for the censorship of online content that is causing some strong reactions in the IT industry. Some companies, including Google, are asserting their objection to the rules which they say restrict the freedom of expression and the flow of information in the country.

The IT Rules 2011 issued by the Ministry of IT and Communications under Section 79 of the Indian IT Act (pdf) states that websites shall inform users not to publish any material that is “blasphemous, would incite hatred, is ethnically objectionable, would infringe on patents, or threaten India’s unity or public order.”

Unfortunately, user-generated content sites such as Orkut, Facebook, Rediff, Yahoo, YouTube and eBay, as well as many of India’s matrimonial websites will be affected by these rules. The ginormous number of online photos, videos, and comments that exist on any social website will be difficult to manage and decide which is considered illegal.

Google objected to the rule, as a spokesperson from India said, “If internet platforms are held liable for third-party content, it would lead to self-censorship and reduce the free flow of information. The regulatory framework should ideally help protect internet platforms and people’s abilities to access information.”

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) commented that this rule will harm the development of social media in India. “The rules seem to step on the statutory side, biased towards the complainant. Even before a case is filed in court, the website has to take down the content. It might harm freedom of speech on internet,” said an IAMAI spokesperson.