Social media users across India lashed out at the BJP-led government for directing the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country to ban more than 850 porn websites, even as more are being reviewed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
"Certain websites have been reviewed and found to be spreading anti-social activities as hyperlinks from these websites, some of them were pornographic, so we have sent letters to internet service providers to block them. The action has been taken in reference to section 79 of IT Act," Hindustan Times quotes sources from DoT as saying.
Following the directive of the Centre, at least 857 adult websites, including Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, have been banned by a few ISPs, while the ministry is still reviewing other sites that can be blocked as well.
"The telecom department sent an order to block 857 websites late on Friday. That is probably why only few ISPs have blocked these over the weekend," The Economic Times quoted its source as saying.
The DoT issued the directives on the order of the court, Information technology secretary RS Sharma told HT.
However, the Supreme Court last month rejected the government's appeal seeking a ban on porn websites in India. "Such interim orders cannot be passed by this court. Somebody may come to the court and say look I am above 18 and how can you stop me from watching it within the four walls of my room. It is a violation of Article 21 [right to personal liberty]," Chief Justice HL Dattu had observed.
The Centre's decision to restrict a person's "right to personal liberty" has outraged many. Several social media users have even compared the government to Taliban for forcing a ban on their fundamental rights. The outraged Twitterati blame the government for, firstly, restricting them from consuming beef in Maharashtra and now, watching porn within confined walls.
The latest ban is not about liking or disliking porn. It's about govt hijacking personal liberties. What'll they ban next - phones & TVs?
— Milind Deora (@milinddeora) August 3, 2015
The nation that gave kamasutra to the world is banning Porn in the nation what an irony. #pornban — Akashdeep jhang (@sky_akash) August 3, 2015
#pornban banned porn due to "rape" soon banned atheism for "cultural insult' banned drinking for "gandhi" banned breathing for "YOLO"
— Klob Twit (@TwitKlob) August 3, 2015
#Pornban - are we going into victorian age ...or just want to follow taliban & Islamic state ...YOU DECIDE FRIENDS — r.s.dogra (@rsdogra) August 3, 2015
Its not a crime to watch Porn in ur room with doors closed within, after #PornBan I must say GOVT. is stealing our liberty
— Virozneen Patel (@VIP2909) August 3, 2015
Thank you @narendramodi, For invading our personal space with #BeefBan & #PornBan I regret voting for such dark aged regressive party. — Damaged (@Baburao_) August 3, 2015
Now that Yakub Memon is hanged, there won't terrorism in India. Now that porn has been banned, there won't be rapes in India. #PornBan
— Gp Capt Christopher (@bcchristopher) August 3, 2015
Apparently our beloved elected morons think that they turn Maharashtra into Taliban! Beef, ban, porn ban.... Ban. Ban.... Ban... Freedom ban — Puffington Ghost (@Bom_Bae_Car) August 1, 2015
To deprive consenting adults of the harmless fun they ar having of watching porn is equivalent of what Taliban nd Isis is doing to freedom
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 1, 2015
Considering the sheer popularity of Porn whichever government owns up to banning it is sure to be wiped out of existence in next election — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 1, 2015
Porn ban is a stupid thing even to think about, as CJI said 'what if tomorrow an adult says how can you stop me from watching in my room'.
— Mohit (@sailorsmoon) August 3, 2015
In a country where the Prime Minister and apparent Leader of Opposition are bachelors, Porn is banned. Unfair.. I say unfair. #PornBan — Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) August 2, 2015