More than 17,000 websites blocked for spreading obscene content, violating Indian values

In a major crackdown on the websites that have been found violating Indian culture or disseminating obscene and misleading content, the Union government has blocked more than 17,000 websites in last three years. This is one of the biggest crackdown by the union government in recent times.

“The ability to post anything from anywhere and at any time provides the potential for dissemination of obscene, misleading and undesired content,” minister of state in the ministry of communications Manoj Sinha informed the Lok Sabha adding that the Cyber space is a complex place involving people, software, hardware and services in a virtually border less world.

He said the potential for dissemination of obscene and misleading content through emails, messaging platforms like WhatsApp and social media also exist adding that under the provisions of Information Technology Act of 2008, the government can initiate action against such websites and platform.