Government reviews blocking of websites, lifts ban on non-porn sites

The government has decided to lift the ban on sites which did not contain pornographic material after undertaking review of its earlier decision to block 857 sites.

It may be recalled that the Department of Telecom and Information Technology had asked Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block 857 websites.

Of the blocked websites, some were found to be hosting jokes, memes and other humorous content without any pornography.

The Centre's initial directive sparked off a raging debate on social media and other platforms, and it was accused of internet censorship.

Telecom and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad then took a decision not to block sites which did not contain pornographic material.

Prasad said he was only adhering to the orders of the Supreme Court to take action on alleged porn sites when the government imposed the ban.

The NDA government, he said, remains committed to the idea of free communication in all mediums, including through the internet.