Is Free Press a Myth in India?

Politicians may keep television and print under control, but now the social media has the potential which has challenged them. As figured by telecom minister Kapil Sibal and the rest that Facebook or Goggle doesn’t even have any journalists. It can’t even be curbed by tax-raid threats, and this has led to the fabrication of IT acts imposing all to keep a lid on their digital mode of expression.

As quoted by the Section 66A of the IT Act, “information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character” can lead to three years jail of the person if posted, as reported by Mahesh Murthy for Hindustan Times. And who decides whether the post is offensive or has menacing character? It’s not a judge or a magistrate; it could be anybody who finds it offensive. 

Does this basically mean that section 66A is an act to intimidate someone to resort to silence? The recent incident of the girls getting arrested for posting comments on Facebook about the reasons for shutting a city and it led to her arrest.

Also Read: India Ranks 131 on Press Freedom Index