Website blocking orders grew hundredfold in 10 years, says RTI response

The surge in online content blocking orders highlights a significant expansion of state surveillance and censorship capabilities in India. Government directives have grown exponentially over the past decade, coinciding with increased internet penetration and cheaper data access. This trend raises critical concerns about the balance between maintaining public order and protecting fundamental digital rights, suggesting a shift toward more aggressive control over online speech. The government’s recent push for Internet Service Providers to catalog all domestic IP addresses aims to streamline the blocking process. However, this mandate faces substantial technical and operational hurdles. Industry experts argue that the request is impractical given the complex nature of modern internet infrastructure, where a single IP address can host thousands of sites. Furthermore, corporate security concerns and the technical limitations of telecom providers, who often act merely as passive conduits, make such granular tracking difficult to enforce effectively. This development is highly relevant to open data advocates because it reveals how technical infrastructure is being leveraged to restrict transparency and free expression. The refusal to provide detailed breakdowns of blocked content under the guise of confidentiality further obscures the scope of censorship. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for ensuring that digital governance remains accountable and that the technical architecture of the internet does not inadvertently facilitate unchecked state overreach.

Source: thehindu.com
Published on 2024-01-10

Open Data

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