Internet Freedom in India Has Progressed In 2015

By siliconindia | Thursday, 29 October 2015, 12:27 Hrs

BANGALORE: People across the world would not forget to thank Robert E.Kahn and Vint Cerf for their remarkable invention called the Internet. Internet has not merely brought a change to our lives but has almost revolutionized the existence of humans on earth, reports DNA.

On October 29, 1969, the two geniuses introduced a remote connection between two computers which marked the first ever internet transmission. Today, as we celebrate International Internet Day, we also cannot forget to mention its emergence and freedom in India.

Today, when the world internet is facing increased censorship and surveillance, India on the other hand has witnessed improvement in the freedom of internet. According to report from an independent organization for freedom and democracy Freedom House, Internet freedom in India has shown enhancement and progress under Modi-led government.

The series of obstructions like the porn ban, people taken into custody for criticizing politicians and risks and protests against net neutrality have still surprisingly managed to get a marked improvement in internet freedom in India.

India scored 40 on the rating chart in 2015 as per the report in comparison to 42 in the last year. The best possible score where there is no barrier to internet freedom is 0 and India has moved up by two places towards the perfect rating. India has also shown remarkable increase in the user base and now is the third largest internet consumer after the United States and China.

"The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) swept to electoral victory in 2014 under its leadership candidate Narendra Modi, and the new government completed its first year in May 2015.

"In the reporting period, India maintained its position as the third largest Internet consumer base after the United States and China, and saw positive developments in terms of the regulatory framework, declining detentions for online speech, and burgeoning digital access," said the report.

The Supreme Court verdict scrapping Section 66A of Information Technology in 2015 also influenced the internet governing system. The section led to arrest of people who posted against political leaders on social media. Meanwhile, India still has a long way to go to introduce efficient protection of privacy.

The report clearly mentions that it hasn’t covered the recent blocking of 837 websites which is likely to come to notice in next year’s rating.