[Given below is the text of an RTI application I filed today.]
Mr HC Jayal,
Joint Secretary, Administration,
Department of Telecom,
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology,
Sanchar Bhavan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi 110001.
Subject: Detailed information required about on Internet censorship under the RTI Act
Dear Sir,
Under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005, you are requested to kindly provide the following information:
1) Which websites are currently blocked in India? Kindly list the addresses of all the websites.
2) For which websites have till date orders been issued for unblocking after it was once blocked?
3) Is there a policy of notifying the public, via the media or through other means, as and when a certain website is blocked?
4) The Department of Telecom (LR Cell) had on 11 June 2004 issued directions to ISPs to block the website www.hotfoon.com. It is understood that the blocking of websites is undertaken as per the provisions of the Department of Information Technology’s Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) dated 7 July 2003.
(a) Which of the authorities listed under section V (1) of the Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) had requested the blocking of www.hotfoon.com? Kindly provide a copy of the relevant correspondence.
(b) Why was www.hotfoon.com blocked?
(c) Is the Department of Telecom aware that at the moment www.hotfoon.com is accessible from connections of many ISPs?
(d) Has the blocking of www.hotfoon.com been revoked at any point?
5) On 29 June 2006, the Department of Telecom (LR Cell) had issued directions to Internet Service Providers to block the website www.geocities.com/cpimlpwg. Which of the authorities listed under section V (1) of the Department’s Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) dated 7 July 2003 had requested the blocking of www.geocities.com/cpimlpwg? Kindly provide a copy of the relevant correspondence with that authority.
6) On 31 July 2006, the Department issued a notification to ISPs saying that www.geocities.com/cpimlpwg was deleted from their servers by M/s Yahoo! Inc.
(a) Kindly provide copies of the correspondence with M/s Yahoo! Inc.
(b) Considering that asking the web-hosting provider to remove websites is not mandated under the Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) dated 7 July 2003 or the IT Act, 2000, under what specific legal provision was M/s Yahoo! Inc. asked to remove www.geocities.com/cpimlpwg?
(c) Which other websites have been removed by which hosting providers on the request of the Department of Telecom or other departments in the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology? Kindly provide copies of the relevant correspondence.
7) On 29 June 2006, the Department of Telecom (LR Cell) had issued directions to Internet Service Providers to block the website www.sex.in. Which of the authorities listed under section V (1) of the Department’s Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) dated 7 July 2003 had requested the blocking of www.sex.in? Kindly provide a copy of the relevant correspondence with that authority.
8) On 16 July 2004, the Department of Telecom (LR Cell) had issued directions to Internet Service Providers to block the website www.hinduunity.org. Which of the authorities listed under section V (1) of the Department’s Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) dated 7 July 2003 had requested the blocking of www.hinduunity.org? Kindly provide a copy of the relevant correspondence with that authority.
9) On 13 July 2006, the Department of Telecom (LR Cell) had issued directions to Internet Service Providers to block www.hinduunity.org apart from 16 other websites. However, www.hinduunity.org had already been blocked under the order dated 16 July 2004. What was the logic in asking to block an already blocked website? Has the Department of Telecom ever asked ISPs to revoke the blocking of www.hinduunity.org?
10) In the 13 July 2006 order, the Department of Telecom (LR Cell) had issued directions to Internet Service Providers to block 16 websites other than www.hinduunity.org. These are:
- http://mypetjawa.mu.nu
- http://pajamaeditors.blogspot.com
- http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com
- http://thepiratescove.us
- http://commonfolkcommonsense.blogspot.com
- http://bamapachyderm.com
- http://princesskimberley.blogspot.com
- http://merrimusings.typepad.com
- http://mackers-world.com
- www.dalistan.org
- www.hinduhumanrights.org/hindufocus.html
- http://www.nndh.com
- http://bloodroyaltriped.com
- http://imagessearchyahoo.com
- http://www.imamali8.com
- http://www.rahulyadav.com
Which of the authorities listed under section V (1) of the Department’s Gazette Notification GSR 529 (E) dated 7 July 2003 had requested the blocking of each of these websites? Kindly provide a copy of the relevant correspondence with that authority for all of these 16 websites.
Looking forward to a prompt response.
(signed)
Shivam Vij
[Address for correspondence]
17 Comments
September 30, 2006 at 1:12 am
BLOGGING: A couple of months ago bloggers in India were prevented from accessing their favorite blogs. A group of dedicated bloggers fought back against this censorship. The fight is still on and Shivam Vij has dashed off a letter to a government official under the Right to Information Act provide information on which sites are blocked and what is the process by which the public is notified. Read Shivam’
January 23, 2007 at 12:47 pm
[IMG]Internet censorship in India: an RTI application at National Highway
September 27, 2006 at 4:14 pm
when do you expect a response?
September 29, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Don’t forget to post the information gathered.
September 29, 2006 at 7:19 pm
[...] Blogging, Festivals, an updated version of Gods, travel, rare flowers, President Mush of Pakistan, films and water art are some of the things that we look in this round-up of virtual India. BLOGGING: A couple of months ago bloggers in India were prevented from accessing their favorite blogs. A group of dedicated bloggers fought back against this censorship. The fight is still on and Shivam Vij has dashed off a letter to a government official under the Right to Information Act provide information on which sites are blocked and what is the process by which the public is notified. Read Shivam’s post to find out the details of this important letter. [...]
September 30, 2006 at 9:35 am
[...] Blogging, festivals, an updated version of Gods, travel, rare flower, President Mush of Pakistan, films and water art are some of the things that we look in this round-up of virtual India. BLOGGING: A couple of months ago bloggers in India were prevented from accessing their favorite blogs. A group of dedicated bloggers fought back against this censorship. The fight is still on and Shivam Vij has dashed off a letter to a government official under the Right to Information Act provide information on which sites are blocked and what is the process by which the public is notified. Read Shivam’s post to find out the details of this important letter. [...]
September 30, 2006 at 3:29 pm
These shall be an interesting set of responses. Thanks for putting the application out, Shivam.
October 2, 2006 at 3:07 am
Was there any response? Please keep us posted
October 18, 2006 at 7:17 am
very useful points raised to RTI. let me know details regarding your queries from DOT particularly about hotfoon.com.
October 27, 2006 at 6:15 am
Kinldly let me know if any response from DOT? Please post updates at the earliest regarding hotfoon.com and other issues.
November 11, 2006 at 8:42 am
Is there any response? Kindly let me know asap.
February 6, 2007 at 10:17 pm
hotfoon is used for internet telephony,same as yahoo.Its uses a dialer.As per Indian government rules, internet telephony is legal,then why block hotfoon. when Sify can offer internet telphony,why not Hotfoon.?????
February 28, 2007 at 7:21 pm
dear shivam sir,
if you can please mail me the reply at jskhattar@gmail.com you got from the authorities regarding your right to information application.
it is imperative and very urgent for me.
thanking you,
yours sincerely,
jaideep
May 16, 2007 at 4:17 am
[...] blogs. A group of dedicated bloggers fought back against this censorship. The fight is still on and Shivam Vij has dashed off a letter to a government official under the Right to Information Act provide [...]
May 21, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Did you get a reply ?
Pls update on this since it has important ramifications for many others using the RTI !
Thanks
Karira
August 28, 2007 at 8:48 pm
[...] http://www.shivamvij.com/2006/09/internet-censorship-in-india-an-rti-app…. [...]
September 5, 2008 at 1:20 pm
What reply did you get? Please share the reply with us.
regards,
Manasi