1: this is the right path that India is going to take. This will be helpful to hold national integrity & keep youngsters away from illegal materials.

Posted by: Raman - 26 May, 2009

2: I think Govt. will deploy resources to straightenate things that are already prevaiing so many years after Internet have been launched now, instead Govt. should ensure that by means of some software or tollgate that Internet is not misused or used for legimitate purposes only.there is no need to employ separate cell here to perform some research or analysis in name of Governance, etc.

Posted by: Gaurav - 26 May, 2009

3: I would stand to differ with many of you here SLIGHTLY. Actually we do need to governing body to monitor Website (including blogs, etc) and Email environment. Not that I want to lose on our privacy. But a governing body that can monitor suspicious activities should be encouraged. We need a AT something like the CAN SPAM Act 2003 and EU regulations. In India we don't have any proper legal body that we can approach in case of an issue.

Do you get unsolicited emails in your inbox? (If you say NO I am Bill Gates). But here's the thing- today if someone hacks my Inbox or my website, what legal action can I take under the republic of India.

The requirement is much bigger than it was in the past.

Think about it!

Posted by: Abhi - 25 May, 2009

4:Well said Abhi.
You have hit the bull's eye. With our new Government now getting into place a lot is needed to be done. I was watching the NDTV News today and we had Mr. Mahindra MD of Mahindra and Mahindra and especially Mr. Bajaj who clearly specified we need GOVERNANCE at the Government level.

Once the new government implements such GOVERNANCE within its bodies, this will automatically flow down to the corporate level. I am currently working in a semi-government company as their Corporate Strategic Planning and Development Manager overseas and we happen to be the top ended award winner of the prestigious award for Quality and Business Excellence.

In Business Excellence, Governance is our top priority and I have well seen the results of these values. It is high time in such degrading and distroted environment that GOVERNANCE is implemented as a TOP PRIORITY. This would simply not give an end to the end but the begining to the end of CORRUPTION specifically know to Third World Countries. We and others are delved deep into such systems and I hope the new government will make a change and for this to happen WE DO NEED A CHANGE AGENT.

I am watching this site and the things that we see fit to our beloved country.

 Rolando replied to: Abhi 
 post - 25 May, 2009

5: Hello....are we listening to this....this is nothing by simply time waste, what security are we talking about. Boss there are enough and more things that you can improve if you look around rather than trying to straighten a "dogs tail". If someone like to give a threat they would because through internet nobody was killed or murdered. Security needs to be within the system rather than controlling things beyond what people can do. Currently with the new government in place, a simple request to look into more serious issues rather than censoring internet. Lets not waste time....

Posted by: sat - 25 May, 2009

6: The most important thing to before this is to provide the internet to every possible place so that every body know what should be done to develop india.

Later this requirement should be fulfilled. i.e the mis happenings of Internet.

I do agree this is correct, but this utter foolish before accomplishing the prerequisite. This is nothing but government is concentrating too little percent(less than 5% internet population). I strongly say this has to be implemented when the percentage increases upto 75% atleast.

Posted by: Kiran Telukunta - 25 May, 2009

7: This kind of monitoring should be taken years ago because India is well known as an IT country and especially to all of the porn sites which plenty of it on internet. Let us clean The Great India from this type of immoral activity and not only for political reasons. Please!!!

Posted by: Michael Dadona - 25 May, 2009

8: I was wondering why this step was not taken earlier. If the Internet is not censored, all the netizens will come to know all the misdeeds of the Government. Simple Example : Through internet only we come to know that Rahul Gandhi was detained by FBI at Boston Airport in 2001 for carrying huge sum of unaccounted money. This Info may be wrong, but no one even tried to rectify it.

Posted by: Akhl - 25 May, 2009

9: Hope a new scam will not come into light in an effort to implement this....

Posted by: Gopal - 25 May, 2009

10: Its very disheartning that the Government is discussing about the issuses which are worthless and time consuming.
The Government should look into other serious cases ,which the country is facing .

Posted by: Anupam Rout - 25 May, 2009

11:You are right that this move is disheartening and time consuming and worthless. I feel that there are lobbies at work. There are loobies within the internet community who would not like the genuine hardworking websites to exist. These lobbies might comprise of shopping portals. National security definitely is an issue but my fear is that a stupid babu will destroy the creativity and entrepreneurship by the innocent intellectual. We all know what KPS Gill did to Indian Hockey. It was disastrous. Similar fate could befall Indian internet. A transparent policy is needed from the government side. The Congress regime could also be planning to sideline their opponents in the name of national interest. Remember country folks, that it was the Congress which imposed emergency on the country. The regime must issue a white paper on this. The guidelines have to be in black and white and not vague. Each point must be explained properly as to what they mean by national security. Any decision has to be open to the public for intervention. A non sensitive babu can curtail excellence and damage the prospects of any budding entrepreneur. This govt. wants to control everyhing. It wants to subvert the rule of democracy, of free press, of bravery. This govt. wants to take back India to the medieval ages. This govt. wants to colonize. They just want power and subject everybody else to submission. Congratulations, Indians, you have once again proved that you are corrupt and you have once again hidden the truth under the carpet and once again you have brought back a corrupt regime to power.

 Sandeep Vij replied to: Anupam Rout 
 post - 27 May, 2009

12: India verymuch needs an internet censorship on the matter of national security. this has to do nothing with your freedom of speech and freedom of press Mr. Ayreej Rahman (no.1)

But this can only be possible if there is the officer is technically correct. There is no use in having an IAS officer to monitor this.
governement should act sensibly in this matter.

Posted by: Shankar Prasad Mandagere - 25 May, 2009

13:But Mr. Shankar Prasad, What comes out of this is every 5 years these people change laws andchange the people incharge for the convinience of the Parties (Here in our country there is NO GOVERNMENT, its always the Political parties) , and with internet and News censorship they just mean that \"We are going to give you Biased and tampered information\" .They wouldnt censor the news , they would tamper it ,the new chanels are just corporates and so for their gains (because they too cannot upset the polititians)they show us what those people wanst to be shown, so finaly the common man is just left with information just which is as pseudo as these polititians.

and the common man\'s only way of expressing his thoughts are the blogs, and those will be censored...

I do understand the National security threat issue, thats true , that should be dealt , but what i was saying is just what is going to come out of such a rule...

 Ayreej Rahman replied to: Shankar Prasad Mandagere 
 post - 09 Sep, 2009

14:stop wasting time writing stupid comments as this.. instead of sitting and watching what the rest of the people think.. go do something about the people that are thinking and acting and destroying our country.. they're not so dumb as to declare their plans openly on the net for dumb people like you to see who can just censor other laymen's comments and freedom only..

 azad replied to: Shankar Prasad Mandagere 
 post - 25 May, 2009

15: i have seen many articles, blogs and communities on social networking sites that spread hate against India, making a Jihadi community on internet or a blog related to spread of anti national activities should be banned.
That is a right step.

 sandeep replied to:  azad 
 post - 25 May, 2009

16: This is bullshit!
Where is my freedom of speech and freedom of press!

Posted by: Ayreej Rahman - 25 May, 2009

17:By freedom of speech I didnt mean that should the hate sites and other such articles should not be screened and censored , But just that the censorship should not be a reason to provide the common man with irrelevant,tampered and Biased data in the interest of the ruling parties.

 Ayreej Rahman replied to: Ayreej Rahman 
 post - 09 Sep, 2009

18:Freedom of speech and freedom of press....lol....do joker jihadis understand a very simple human need of right to live without fear of loosing life....a simple way of solving this problem on internet is to block all encrypted messages in the public domain...may be jihadis should go way way back to bows and arrows and wooden sticks to carry out their honest to god activities

 Ramesh Iyer replied to: Ayreej Rahman 
 post - 25 May, 2009

19: Look for Dumbos Like you who dont understand that all muslim aren't Jihadi's.. Having a tag Iyyer doesnt make a patriot and being a muslim doesnt make me a terrorist . you better mind your tongue...Mr.Ramesh Iyyer.. This country is mine as much as its yours..

 Ayreej Rahman replied to:  Ramesh Iyer 
 post - 09 Sep, 2009

20:Freedom of speech and press is not a right to say anything

 red replied to: Ayreej Rahman 
 post - 25 May, 2009

21: By freedom of speach I didnt mean that should the hate sites and other such articles should not be screened and censored, But just that the censorship should not be a reason to provide the common man with irrelevant and Biased and tampered information in the interest of the ruling parties.

 Ayreej Rahman replied to:  red 
 post - 09 Sep, 2009

22: With due respect to you and Ramesh and all who comment here on this subject.. FREEDOM OF SPEECH and PRESS has values and meanings and not to express one's personal views in the context that may hurt the government, the country and any individual citizen of India. For Ramesh, I should say you dont have to say you ought to tone down your feelings since ANGER is the main DRIVER to atrocity.. I respect your sentiments but please do look at others setiments too. That how we live in a civilized world. For what you do expect others to do the same to you. On Ravi's comment i agree with him partially about corruption and therefore somewhere in my remarks here i mentioned about GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE. I hope many of you do understand what GOVERNANCE is all about and it is high time that we have a GOVERNANCE policy in place that would erradicate corruption to its core. We happen to be one of the most power countries in the WORLD. If the west can recognize our power as a DEMOCRATIC country why cant our our people do so?

 Rolando replied to:  red 
 post - 25 May, 2009

23:The greatest threat to national security are the corrupt politicians,many of whom have criminal background.Despite all the access,huge networks and deterrent capabilities our so called 'intelligence bureaus' have failed us all the time. The censorship move is to stifle protests and curtail free expression of opinion against the inevitable Government failures on various fronts.

 Ravi replied to: Ayreej Rahman 
 post - 25 May, 2009

24: I'm not sure what you understand. If there is a gap that we find in our GOVERNANCE system, there is nothing wrong in fixing it. I'm sure you dont mean spreading hatred towards India or any other country, or person or companies as your freedom of speech. Critics are different from Terrorists, corrupt people, criminals etc. Its a new def in its own way.

 Raj replied to:  Ravi 
 post - 27 May, 2009

25: Raj What if the whole system is just WRONG...
By freedom of speach I didnt mean that should the hate sites and other articles should not be screened, But just that the censorship should not be a reason to provide the common man with unrelevant and Biassed data in the interest of the ruling party. Jai Hind...

 Ayreej Rahman  replied to: Raj 
 post - 09 Sep, 2009

26: Well said. You are right,Ayreej. India is one of the number one corruption countries in the world. Government allow gross human rights abuse to continue daily. With censorship India is heading into more shame and breakdown of society. Control is harmful to humans. Censorship is controlling and restraining the public. And keeping them ignorant. Government will be able to will anything.

 aunty replied to:  Ravi 
 post - 25 May, 2009

27: so nothing new. time and again media has been throttled by the respective governments of all the countries whenever they felt threatened . the governments assume the role of a guardian and treat the responsible citizens as small children who will feel frightened once they are whipped. but is this is not true. blocking anything from the citizens can amount to insulting his/ her intelligence. after all it is the citizens who have elected the government. free flow of information is their fundemental right. and the govt have to trust the intelligence, prudence and judgement of the people of the country and not just put reins on them.

Posted by: mou mukherjee-das - 24 May, 2009

28: Technically there is logic in the proposal. But like all things implemented by the government, this is only going to arms the government clerks and the babus, and the police shipaies to harass the public. They are most unfit for any such jobs. As it is, the public servants are not fit for any job other than public cleaning.
As to the TV channels and their staff, they look pretty silly and immature. During the terror attack in the hotels in Bombay, the newsboys/girls from the CNN looked liked jabbering school kids. Loud mouthed, and mouthing out shallow words of seeming profundity. Just one stray bullet from anywhere would have made them scamper well past their homes.

Posted by: Ved from Victoria Institutions - 24 May, 2009

29: i believe some kind or control is required since private media is all bout making money and being the first in \"breaking news\" these days. If you see the recent 26/11 coverage, the live coverage gave the paki handlers a bird\'s eye view of the operations. Even the commandos landing from choppers was telecasted live.
There was one incident during Kargil war, when a famous reporter of a prominent private tv channel gave the exact location of the bunker tht reporter was in. The words were somewhat like \"I am in bunker at point so and so, and we are haveing enemy shelling few km from us.\" When this was telecasted, enemy changed the shelling position and resulted in our casualties, while reporter still continues to live.

This said it must be taken care tht censorship is applied only during real emergencies and truth is released in entirety one the situation is over

Posted by: Akhil - 24 May, 2009

30: I can only hope that the govt. can put in some more time into getting some real issues sorted out instead of doing this censoring bull*hit. They really do not want the people to know what really is boiling in the govt. stables.

I just hope that whenever they try to bring in some law that affects the common man in India, they put the law under review by the common man itself and see if they really want the law to be put in place or not. This is a complete dictatorship that they decide (one fine day) that they will review this or censor that etc. Put the law under the review of the common man and ask them to vote on it. If they get a majority on it, I guess we can go ahead and make it a law.

Posted by: im_xboss - 24 May, 2009

31:I really think we shouldn't be following communist laws instead we have to be a capitalistic country like the US. Unless there is a real issue with the web content it shouldn't be legal to watch common man's Internet history. Chinese following communism , are we a communist?

US/UK laws will not go against a common man that is a beauty of western law even if happens the common people have every rights to sue any company / govt.

 SKJ replied to: im_xboss 
 post - 24 May, 2009

32: it hooked many IUser's

Posted by: var - 24 May, 2009

33: This proposal by the government is really weird, I don't know why they what to censor each and everything.

Posted by: raj - 22 May, 2009

34:Thanks to uncensored bull*hit reporting of the Mumbai event by news channels, who caused the death of soldiers and citizens.

I strongly feel that there is no single Indian news channel to which we can site for reference. They are all running after the TRP competing with the saas bahu thriller comics.

Same philosophy is used on their websites.

 ASK replied to: raj 
 post - 22 May, 2009

35: well, well, well.

the indian govt. is n't worried abt censorship of new channels. It is news websites and to remind the follow commentor, the govt. has awarded Rajdeep sardesai and Barkha dutt for getting indians killed.

See, the point is govt. cant buy every blogger on this planet as they have don with news channel with "iron" hand.
now, Govt. has committed some deep shit which news channel dont cover.

Like giving forged documents to swiss officials, transfer of KGB money to Rahul gandhi account, all these news flows unhindered on internet.

Govt. intentionally want to stop that.

 thisisblashpemy replied to:  ASK 
 post - 23 May, 2009

36: Really sad and funny. The medium which came into existence on the motto of "Information is Free" is being censored now.

It is being contemplated in a country which as its majority religion has hinduism which proclaims "Democracy of thought" as its only guiding principle.

Why am I not surprised? Reason being that it is being touted by congress and industrialist, the same cabal which indulged in the murder of democracy during emergency.

What are they afraid of?

They are afraid that information if not censored, then will tell the populace the truth. Truths like increase in assets of Rahul Gandhi by 2 crores in 5 years when he got a salary of only 30 lakhs approx.

These are bitter truths and in the garb of national security, misdeeds of Gandhi family and other politicians and industrialists is being attempted to be buried.

This will be fought into SC as the nation will not except censorship.

To put it bluntly, when my ancestors joined the Indian Union, we did not agree to be gagged.

 Sanjay  replied to: thisisblashpemy 
 post - 25 May, 2009

37: good post!

 gangsta replied to: Sanjay 
 post - 29 May, 2009