The Indian Government could force a number of websites like Google, it’s video sharing service Youtube & social networks sites like Facebook & Twitter to introduce local servers in India, as the country’s government seeks to better regulate ‘objectionable content’ on the Internet. Now for those of you who proudly declare India to be the world’s largest democracy – take a moment to let that sink in. Then hang your head in shame!
According to a report from Hindustan Times, “the option is already in process” with India’s union law ministry, which is looking into a solution that would see the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube asked to set up servers to handle content from the country’s Web space. High level politicians have raised the issue of removing ‘objectionable & offending content’ from these sites. Home secretary RK Singh is said to have suggested that the US develop a system to catch unsuitable Web content instantly, or within a specific period of time, to help cut down on “mala fide” postings. While such a request seems optimistic, Singh told Lute that, if the US is unable to address the issue of managing content itself, India could require the Web firms to comply with the server request. However, the US politician’s responses are not known, at this stage.
I have a suggestion – the so called ‘objectionable content’ is often related to politics & religion, two strange bedfellows. Perhaps the politicians and religious fucktards could clean up their act and not provide us with the aforementioned content which is what we sometimes share across these social networking sites!!
Censorship = the wrong way to go. So wrong.
I agree with Tammy. Once censorship begins it ends up changing everything. The problem is who decides what content is objectionable and what isn’t. As you say, it can often have a religious or political bias. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to pass.