MeitY unblocks VLC Media Player, month after getting legal notice

A month after VideoLAN, a non-profit that runs the popular VLC Media Player, shot off a legal notice to the government regarding the blocking of an URL, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) unblocked the website, Internet Freedom Foundation informed on November 14. No explanation was reportedly provided by the government with regard to why the URL was blocked.  

VICTORY @GoI_MeitY has decided to remove its ban on the website of VLC media player. IFF provided legal support to @videolan throughout this process. (1/3)#WhatTheBlock pic.twitter.com/pW7APDAbIX

— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) November 14, 2022

The ban had been imposed earlier this year, without any official statement. Throughout this period, only the website was blocked, and mobile apps were working.

On August 15, the IFF said it had filed an RTI, seeking the grounds on which it was banned.

 

On June 07, 2022, we filed a Right to Information application with @DoT_India seeking information on the blocking of the website of VideoLAN[dot]org in India. DoT transferred it to @GoI_MeitY, which then responded on July 14 that “No information is available [with MeitY]” (1/4) https://t.co/usQHOmaJdW

— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) August 14, 2022