The Department of Telecom has requested internet companies to block 63 websites based on the judgement of a Pune court, and block 4 websites based on the order of the Uttarakhand HC and orders issued by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
The government has ordered internet companies to block 67 pornographic websites following court orders. (Representational/File)
The government has ordered internet companies to block 67 pornographic websites following court orders and for violating the new IT rules that were issued in 2021.
In an email addressed to internet service providers, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has instructed them to block 63 websites based on the judgement of a Pune court, and block 4 websites based on the order of the Uttarakhand High Court and orders issued by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) (MeitY).
According to a DoT order dated September 24, "MeitY has directed to immediately take down (block) the... websites/URLs in accordance with the said (Uttarakhand High court) order read along with rule 3(2)(b) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and in light of certain obscene material available in the below-mentioned website that tarnish the image of women's modesty.
The IT Rules 2021 invoked by MeitY mandates IT companies to remove or disable access to content hosted, stored or published by them which “shows such individual in full or partial nudity or shows or depicts such individual in any sexual act or conduct” and also content which is allegedly impersonated or artificially morphed.