Google Blogs blocked in India IT News by Burleson Consulting

India Blocks Google blogs

The Indian government has blocked Google Blogs because some sites publish libel, defamation and pornography:

“Sites can be blocked if they contain "pornography, speeches of hate, contempt, slander or defamation, or if they promote gambling, racism, violence or terrorism".

"Such sites may be blocked within the provisions of the Fundamental Right to free speech and expression, granted in India's Constitution," said cyber-law expert Praveen Dalal.”

Many advocates applaud this as a positive move toward responsible publishing on the Internet whereby Web Publishers must meet the same standards of decency as print publishers.  The only issue appears to be that India has chosen to block all Google blogs. 

But it’s not just Google.  Many search engines do not honor subpoenas to remove content (issued from countries where victims have the right to have libelous and defamatory information withdrawn from publication), and some search engine vendors cite the USA standards of First Amendment free speech. 

“The Indian government, and the ISPs are refusing to hand over the list and ISPs seem to think it is safer to block access to whole sites rather than pages.”