Few conditional regulations on web okay: UK minister
Press Trust of India / Chennai Feb 15, 2012, 10:45 IST
British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jeremy Browne today said there should be some conditional regulation on Internet but for UK the right to the freedom of expression comes first.
"There should be parameters (on the online space). But, for Britain, the one that comes first is the right to the freedom of expression of an individual," he said when asked about his reaction to contents in the Internet particularly in social networking sites.
"When we discuss about those parameters, we stop on the rights of freedom. This is an important political phenomena," he said.
His comments comes amid raging controversy over Indian government's proposal to monitory content in cyber space.
Meanwhile, commeting on the bilateral trade, he said Britain is aiming to double its trade volume with India over the next three years.
"We are making good progress on our targets of doubling our trade with you between 2010-15. Our exports were up 45 per cent last year and India is now our third largest market outside of the European Union," he said.
"It (trade volume) will go up. I think the trend is up and high. There is no cap," he said.
He also invited small and medium enterprises to come and invest in his country.
"We want companies to come and invest. We are enthusiastic about that," he said and added that there may be corruption in some business on a short-term basis, but on a long-term basis there may not be.
He said his government was increasing the staff in India by thirty officers.
"We are increasing our frontline staff in India. This is a considerable diplomatic reinforcement. We want to widen our focus beyond Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore and are currently discussing plans with your authorities to expand our presence," he said.
He was participating in a function organised by the Madras Chamber and British Deputy High Commission.
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British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jeremy Browne today said there should be some conditional regulation on Internet but for UK the right to the freedom of expression comes first.
