Online News Publications May Need To Register With Indian Government, Else Be Blocked
Not that we haven’t heard murmurs of the Indian government wanting to regulate content on the Internet before, but this one has implications for international publications: the Information and Broadcasting Ministry wants to extend its mandate of regulation to cover all online news. As per a draft proposal, online editions of foreign publications will have to register in India, else be deemed illegal and hence blocked access from India, reports reports Financial Express..
Earlier, a parliamentary committee had recommended that ISPs be held liable for content that is transferred through their pipes. It’s around a year since the government had attempted to muzzle free speech by blocking blogs in India – a move implemented through it’s cyber security group called CERT-IN. After much international condemnation, the block was removed. The Internet is something like an anarchic underground in India, though in full public view, and the increasing influence that opinions expressed online via blogs and petitions also appear to be cause for concern for the government.
I think this is another absurd decision of the government. At first it was blogs, then orkut and social networking sites now they are training their guns on foreign magazines. I think the govt should honestly take a hike.
Why not have a committee which will read every news article before it is published.
I think it makes absolute sense in terms of collecting tax revenue. When the publication is drawing business and advertisement revenue by counting the Indian audience (significant in share), why not make them pay tax for it. And the only way of doing it is to make them register a subsidiary here in India.
I dont think this particular move is focused towards regulating content (but, it'll ofcourse give gov't a little more command)
Its really weird that the govt. has decided to take stock of the everyday news of these foreign newspapers. I mean what are they trying to stop ? This is all about violating the freedom that press has. Really a absurd decision by the govt.
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I don't know why Indian Government is always interested in these stupid restrictions rather than concentrating on how administration can be improved.