The Internet has opened up new horizons in communications for everyone. A growing fear shared by Internet users in Syraucse is that efforts at Internet censorship anywhere in the world could snowball and dramatically impact the value of the Internet as a open forum or the sharing of ideas. A challenge to Internet censorship is now being confronted by Google and Facebook in Indian courts.
T.C. Sottek has reported for The Verge "Google and Facebook challenge Indian courts over web censorship lawsuits" Although India is the most populous democracy in the world, the country is no stranger to censorship efforts. India has struggled over the years with balancing free expression and calming partisan violence. India's courts are now considering web censorship measures in response to lawsuits over obscene material, such as controversial religious statements, on websites like Google and Facebook.
However, Internet giants Google and Facebook are standing firm on the side of protecting freedom of expression on the Internet. Google India's advocate has told the Delhi high court today that blocking websites is not an option, because India is not a "totalitarian" regime like China. India does however permit the restriction of content which is prejudicial, that is thought to instigate hatred between different groups, or that "threatens national integrity."
Vinay Rai, an Indian journalist who initiated one of the lawsuits, has claimed that "freedom of speech does not mean you can show whatever you want... do not attack any religion. Insulting religion means instigating riots." The lawsuit in the Indian high court demands that internet companies should screen content before it's posted. And a criminal case which is similar has accused Google, Facebook, and 19 other companies of violating Indian laws that prohibit works that "deprave or corrupt."
In consideration of the inexhaustible supply of new content which shows up on the web, pre-screening requirements would be prohibitive to implement, and would therefore likely amount to censorship. A Google India advocate has said in court "The issue relates to a constitutional issue of freedom of speech and expression, and suppressing it was not possible as the right to freedom of speech in democratic India separates us from a totalitarian regime like China."
Hearings will be resumed by the Indian court for the case on January 19th, with Google India and others arguing that they're not responsible for "obscene, objectionable, and defamatory" content. From the standpoint of a majority of the people worldwide it appears in an age wherein democratic revolutions are popular Google, Facebook and the other Internet giants have a lot of support for their side of this issue.
Photographer: rajcreationzs
