India is trying to block access to online pornography in a move that has triggered fears over digital freedoms in the world’s largest democracy.
Senior government officials held a meeting in September to discuss how web filters can be used on websites containing adult content, according to local media reports published on Friday.
“When any country blocks porn, it is a form of internet censorship,” said Pawan Duggal, a lawyer specializing in Indian cyber law at Pawan Duggal Associates Advocates. “This specific issue is problematic because India doesn’t have a universal definition of porn. Indian cyber law doesn’t use the word pornography.”
India wants to ban porn – will it work?
Sameer Patil, Associate Fellow, National Security, Ethnic Conflict and Terrorism, Gateway House comments on the government's decision to ban porn in India