View source for Software:Internet censorship in India

{{short description|Overview of Internet censorship in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Internet}}

'''Internet censorship in {{wipe|India}}''' is done by both central and state governments. DNS filtering and educating service users in suggested usages is an active strategy and government policy to regulate and block access to Internet content on a large scale. Measures for removing content at the request of content creators through court orders have also become more common in recent years. Initiating a mass surveillance government project like Golden Shield Project is an alternative that has been discussed over the years by government bodies.

==Overview==

===OpenNet Initiative report===
The OpenNet Initiative classified India as engaged in "selective" Internet filtering in the political, conflict/security, social, and Internet tools areas in 2011.<ref name=ONICountryProfiles-India>[http://access.opennet.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/accesscontested-india.pdf "ONI Country Profile: India"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917002025/http://access.opennet.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/accesscontested-india.pdf |date=17 September 2018 }}, ''Access Contested'', Ronald J. Deibert, John G. Palfrey, Rafal Rohozinski and Jonathan Zittrain (Eds), OpenNet Initiative, MIT Press, November 2011, pp. 299–308</ref><ref name=ONIChildPornLegal>Due to legal concerns the OpenNet Initiative does not check for filtering of child pornography and because their classifications focus on technical filtering, they do not include other types of censorship.</ref> ONI describes India as:

{{quote|A stable democracy with a strong tradition of press freedom, that nevertheless continues its regime of Internet filtering. However, India's selective censorship of blogs and other content, often under the guise of security, has also been met with significant opposition.

Indian ISPs continue to selectively filter Web sites identified by authorities. However, government attempts at filtering have not been entirely effective because blocked content has quickly migrated to other Web sites and users have found ways to circumvent filtering. The government has also been criticised for a poor understanding of the technical feasibility of censorship and for haphazardly choosing which Web sites to block.}}

===Reporters Without Borders "countries under surveillance"===
In March 2012, Reporters Without Borders added India to its list of "countries under surveillance",<ref name=RWBEnemies>[http://march12.rsf.org/i/Report_EnemiesoftheInternet_2012.pdf ''Internet Enemies''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323215225/http://march12.rsf.org/i/Report_EnemiesoftheInternet_2012.pdf |date=23 March 2012 }}, Reporters Without Borders (Paris), 12 March 2012</ref> stating that:

{{quote|Since the Mumbai bombings of 2008, the Indian authorities have stepped up Internet surveillance and pressure on technical service providers, while publicly rejecting accusations of censorship. The national security policy of the world's biggest democracy is undermining freedom of expression and the protection of Internet users' personal data.}}

===Freedom House report===
[[Organization:Freedom House|Freedom House]]''<nowiki/>'s Freedom on the net 2022'' report gives India a Freedom on the Net status of "Partly Free" with a rating of 51 (0-100, higher is better), increased from 41 in 2017. Its Obstacles to Access was rated 13 (0-25 scale), Limits on Content was 21 (0-32 scale) and Violations of User Rights was 17 (0-40 scale).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=India: Freedom on the Net 2022 Country Report |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/india/freedom-net/2022 |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}</ref> India was ranked 37th out of 70 countries rated in the report.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Table of FOTN Country Scores |url=https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-net/scores |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}</ref>

The ''Freedom on the Net 2017'' report gives India the same status of "Partly Free" with a rating of 41 (scale from 0 to 100, lower is better). Its Obstacles to Access was rated 12 (0–25 scale), Limits on Content was rated 9 (0–35 scale) and Violations of User Rights was rated 20 (0–40 scale).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2017/india|title=India – Country Report|work=Freedom House|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=18 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118191907/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2017/india|url-status=dead}}</ref> India was ranked 26th out of the 65 countries included in the report.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/table-country-scores-fotn-2016|title=Table of Country Scores FOTN 2017|website=freedomhouse.org|date=4 November 2016}}</ref>

The ''Freedom on the Net 2012'' report says:<ref>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/India%202012.pdf "India Country Report"], ''Freedom on the Net 2012'', Freedom House. Retrieved 25 September 2012</ref>
* India's overall Internet Freedom Status is "Partly Free", unchanged from 2009.
* India has a score of 39 on a scale from 0 (most free) to 100 (least free), which places India 20 out of the 47 countries worldwide that were included in the 2012 report. India ranked 14 out of 37 countries in the 2011 report.
* India ranks third out of the eleven countries in [[Earth:Asia|Asia]] included in the 2012 report.
* Prior to 2008, censorship of Internet content by the Indian government was relatively rare and sporadic.
* Following the November 2008 terrorist attacks in {{wipe|Mumbai}}, which killed 171 people, the Indian Parliament passed amendments to the Information Technology Act (ITA) that expanded the government's censorship and monitoring capabilities.
* While there is no sustained government policy or strategy to block access to Internet content on a large scale, measures for removing certain content from the web, sometimes for fear they could incite violence, have become more common.
* Pressure on private companies to remove information that is perceived to endanger public order or national security has increased since late 2009, with the implementation of the amended ITA. Companies are required to have designated employees to receive government blocking requests, and assigns up to seven years' imprisonment to private service providers—including ISPs, search engines, and cybercafes—that do not comply with the government's blocking requests.
* Internet users have sporadically faced prosecution for online postings, and private companies hosting the content are obliged by law to hand over user information to the authorities.
* In 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that bloggers and moderators can face libel suits and even criminal prosecution for comments posted on their websites.
* Prior judicial approval for communications interception is not required and both central and state governments have the power to issue directives on interception, monitoring, and decryption. All licensed ISPs are obliged by law to sign an agreement that allows Indian government authorities to access user data.

==Background==
In June 2000, the Indian Parliament created the Information Technology (IT) Act to provide a legal framework to regulate Internet use and commerce, including digital signatures, security, and hacking.<ref name=ONICountryProfiles-India/> The act criminalises the publishing of obscene information electronically and grants police powers to search any premises without a warrant and arrest individuals in violation of the act. A 2008 amendment to the IT Act reinforced the government's power to block Internet sites and content and criminalised sending messages deemed inflammatory or offensive.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110414012321/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/sca/154480.htm "Internet Freedom"], ''2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 8 April 2011</ref>

Internet filtering can also be mandated through licensing requirements. For example, ISPs seeking licences to provide Internet services with the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) "shall block Internet sites and/or individual subscribers, as identified and directed by the Telecom Authority from time to time" in the interests of "national security".<ref>[http://www.dot.gov.in/ispt/isptindex.htm Schedule C, Section 1.10.2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508033031/http://www.dot.gov.in/ispt/isptindex.htm |date=8 May 2011 }}, Government of India, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Department of Telecommunications Telecom Commission, Licence Agreement for Provision of Internet Service (including Internet Telephony)</ref> Licence agreements also require ISPs to prevent the transmission of obscene or otherwise objectionable material.<ref>[http://www.dot.gov.in/ispt/isptindex.htm Schedule C, Section 1.12.9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508033031/http://www.dot.gov.in/ispt/isptindex.htm |date=8 May 2011 }}, Government of India, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Department of Telecommunications Telecom Commission, Licence Agreement for Provision of Internet Service (including Internet Telephony)</ref>

In 2001, the Bombay High Court appointed a committee to oversee issues relating to online pornography and [[Cybercrime]].<ref>[http://www.cyquator.com/html/vol1.pdf ''Report to Recommend Measures to Protect and Shield Minors from Pornographic and Obscene Material on the Internet''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701040414/http://www.cyquator.com/html/vol1.pdf |date=1 July 2007 }}, Committee Appointed by the Bombay High Court, 30 January 2002</ref> The Court invited the petitioners, Jayesh Thakkar and Sunil Thacker, to make recommendations on cyber laws. The committee published a report which analyses the key issues and made recommendations regarding areas such as the licensing of cyber cafés, putative identity cards for cyber cafe visitors, that minors use computers in public spaces, and the maintenance of IP logs by cyber cafes. The committee also recommended that internet service providers keep correct time logs and records.

The report also addressed the protection of children from adult websites and advised internet service providers to provide parental control software for every Internet connection. The committee also identified lack of technical knowledge in the police as a problem. The report was well received by the courts, and its recommendations are being implemented the police and cyber cafés. The Cyber Crime Investigation Cell was set up pursuant to a recommendation made by the committee.

In 2003, the Government of India established the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) to ensure Internet security.<ref>[http://www.cert-in.org.in/ "Indian Computer Emergency Response Team"], website, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India</ref> Its stated mission is "to enhance the security of India's Communications and Information Infrastructure through proactive action and effective collaboration".<ref>[http://www.cert-in.org.in/s2cMainServlet?pageid=CHARTMISSION CERT-IN "Charter and Mission"], Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India</ref> CERT-IN is the agency that accepts and reviews requests to block access to specific websites. All licensed Indian ISPs must comply with CERT-IN decisions. There is no review or appeals process. Many institutions, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, courts, the intelligence services, the police and the National Human Rights Commission, may call on it for specialist expertise. By stretching the prohibition against publishing obscene content to include the filtering of Web sites, CERT-IN was empowered to review complaints and act as the sole authority for issuing blocking instructions to the Department of Telecommunications (DOT). Many have argued that giving CERT-IN this power through executive order violates constitutional jurisprudence holding that specific legislation must be passed before the government can encroach on individual rights.<ref name=ONICountryProfiles-India/>

"I am mystified by our government's approach both to the internet and to the millions of Indians using it. It does not adhere to the values of our republic and democracy. This matter needs to be addressed urgently, for which I propose to file a PIL in the Supreme Court. Don't kill the freedom of speech, change the IT Rules", says Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament.<ref>[http://rajeev.in/News/Dont_Kill_Freedom/Times_of_India.html "Don't Kill Freedom Of Speech"], Rajeev Chandrasekhar, ''Times of India'', 30 November 2012</ref>

A committee of executives from social media companies meet biweekly in "69A meetings", where agencies would present posts and accounts they wanted removed. The agencies refer to threats to national security and the country's sovereignty for the necessity of takedowns. Under the Modi administration, the meetings became longer, spilling over into days.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Mehrota |first=Karishma |last2=Menn |first2=Joseph |date=November 8, 2023 |title=How India tamed Twitter and set a global standard for online censorship |work={{wipe|The Washington Post}} |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/08/india-twitter-online-censorship/ |access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref>

==Timeline of censorship==

===Dawn website (1999)===
Immediately after the Kargil War in 1999, the website of the {{wipe|Pakistan}}i daily newspaper ''Dawn'' was temporarily blocked from access within India by Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, a government-owned telecommunications company which at the time had monopoly control of the international internet gateways in India.<ref>[http://www.newswatch.in/newsblog/7767 "India blocks Pakistani newspaper web site"], Newswatch.in, 5 July 1999</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990716/ige16018.html "Grateful Dawn group writes to Express"], Express News Service, 15 July 1999</ref> Rediff, a media news website, claimed that the ban was instigated by the Indian government, and then published detailed instructions as to how one could bypass the filter and view the site.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/computer/1999/jul/05dawn.htm "Click here to read ''Dawn''"], Srikant Sreenivasan and Priya Ganapati, Rediff on the Net, 5 July 1999</ref>

===Yahoo Groups (2003)===
In September 2003, Kynhun, a [[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo]] group linked to the "Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council" (an illegal, minor separatist group from Meghalaya), which discussed the case of the Khasi tribe was banned.<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/24/india_blocks_yahoo_groups/ "India blocks Yahoo! Groups"], Andrew Orlowski, The Register, 24 September 2003</ref> The Department of Telecommunications asked Indian ISPs to block the group, but difficulties led to all Yahoo! groups being banned for approximately two weeks.<ref>[http://www.infowar-monitor.net/2003/09/yahoo-groups-blocked-by-indian-government/ "India Bans One Yahoo Discussion Group"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917185442/http://www.infowar-monitor.net/2003/09/yahoo-groups-blocked-by-indian-government/ |date=17 September 2011 }}, Shibu Thomas, InfoWar Monitor, 29 September 2003</ref>

===Websites blocked (2006)===
In July 2006, the Indian government ordered the blocking of 17 websites, including some hosted on the Geocities, Blogspot and [[Software:Typepad|Typepad]] domains. Initial implementation difficulties led to these domains being blocked entirely.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blocking the Blogs|date=18 July 2006|publisher=Outlook India|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060718&fname=blogs&sid=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913220346/http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060718&fname=blogs&sid=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 September 2012|access-date=19 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sengupta|first=Somini|title=India Blocks Blogs in Wake of Mumbai Bombings| date= 18 July 2006|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/world/asia/18cnd-india.html|access-date=19 July 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/19blogs.htm "Blog blockade will be lifted in 48 hours"], Rediff News, 19 July 2006</ref> Access to sites on these domains other than those specifically banned was restored by most ISPs after about a week.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bloggers are back in business|date=25 July 2006|work=The Hindu|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/25/stories/2006072518130100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001032146/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/25/stories/2006072518130100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2007|access-date=30 July 2006|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

===Orkut and Indian law enforcement agreement (2007)===
In 2007, Indian law enforcement entered an agreement with the then popular social networking site Orkut to track down what it deems defamatory content which, in their example, includes content critical of Bal Thackeray.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Orkuts_tell-all_pact_with_cops_/RssArticleShow/articleshow/1982584.cms "Orkut's tell-all pact with cops"], The Economic Times, 1 May 2007</ref>

=== 2011 ===

==== New IT rules adopted ====
The "IT Rules 2011" were adopted in April 2011 as a supplement to the 2000 Information Technology Act (ITA). The new rules require Internet companies to remove within 36 hours of being notified by the authorities any content that is deemed objectionable, particularly if its nature is "defamatory," "hateful", "harmful to minors", or "infringes copyright". Cybercafé owners are required to photograph their customers, follow instructions on how their cafés should be set up so that all computer screens are in plain sight, keep copies of client IDs and their browsing histories for one year, and forward this data to the government each month.<ref name=RWBEnemies/>

==== Websites banned ====
In March 2011, the Government banned several websites, [[Software:Typepad|Typepad]], Mobango, Clickatell for some time without warning.<ref>[http://www.medianama.com/2011/03/223-indian-government-blocks-typepad-mobango-clickatell/#disqus_thread "Updated: Indian Government Blocks Typepad, Mobango, and Clickatell"], Nikhil Pahwa, et al., MediaNama, 4 March 2011
</ref>

On 21 July 2011, all file hosting websites were blocked by ISPs to prevent copyright infringement of the film ''Singham'', causing anger amongst Internet users.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/singham-effect-file-sharing-sites-blocked-121249/#disqus_thread "Singham effect: File sharing sites blocked"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008110638/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/singham-effect-file-sharing-sites-blocked-121249#disqus_thread |date=8 October 2012 }}, NDTV, [http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/jul/220711-ISPs-Singham-v-s-file-sharing-John-Doe-Delhi-High-Court.htm "Singham v/s file sharing"], Lindsay Pereira, ''Mid DAY'', 22 July 2011</ref> This ban was later lifted.

On 24 December 2011, Reliance Communications, a widely used ISP, again blocked access to file-sharing sites, having obtained a John Doe order from a [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]] court to help protect the movie ''Don 2'' several days before its release. The block was lifted on 30 December 2011.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120103144315/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-24/internet/30554592_1_block-websites-reliance-communications-reliance-entertainment "Blocking website in India: Reliance Communications shows it is very easy"], Javed Anwer, Times of India, 24 December 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/rcom-shuts-access-to-file-sharing-sites/459854/ "RCom shuts access to file-sharing sites"], Shubhashish and Katya B Naidu, Business Standard (Mumbai), 27 December 2011</ref>

==== Pre-screening of Internet content ====
On 5 December 2011, ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'' India Ink reported that the Indian government had asked several social media sites and internet companies, including [[Company:Google|Google]], [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] and [[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]], to "prescreen user content from India and to remove disparaging, inflammatory or defamatory content before it goes online".<ref>{{cite news |title=India Asks Google, Facebook to Screen User Content |last=Timmons |first=Heather |url=http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/india-asks-google-facebook-others-to-screen-user-content/ |newspaper=The New York Times| date=5 December 2011| access-date=27 May 2012}}</ref> Top officials from the Indian units of Google, [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]], Yahoo and Facebook had several meetings with Kapil Sibal, India's acting telecommunications minister to discuss the issue in recent months, India Ink reported. In one meeting, Sibal asked these companies "to use human beings to screen content, not technology", the article said.

On 6 December 2011, communications minister of India Kapil Sibal held a press conference confirming the India Ink story. "We have to take care of the sensibilities of our people," Mr. Sibal told more than 100 reporters during a press conference on the lawn at his home in [[Place:New Delhi|New Delhi]]. "Cultural ethos is very important to us."<ref>{{cite news|last=Timmons|first=Heather|title=Any Normal Human Being Would Be Offended|url=http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/any-normal-human-being-would-be-offended/|newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}}|date=6 December 2011| access-date=27 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiaopines.com/our-right-to-freedom-of-speech-and-expression-is-under-attack/|title=Our right to freedom of speech and expression is under attack|date=9 March 2013|access-date=29 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806013456/http://indiaopines.com/our-right-to-freedom-of-speech-and-expression-is-under-attack/|archive-date=6 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 7 December 2011, ''The Times of India'' revealed that the search engine Google was asked to remove around 358 items by the Government of India out of which 255 items were said to criticise the government as per a Google [[Finance:Transparency report|transparency report]]. The government had asked Google to remove 236 items from Orkut and 19 items from YouTube for the same reason, it added. Other reasons include defamation (39 requests), privacy and security (20 requests), impersonation (14 requests), hate speech (8 requests), pornography (3 requests) and national security (1 request). Google admitted that 51 per cent of the total requests were partially or fully complied with.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-07/internet/30485700_1_removal-requests-orkut-social-networking| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213100112/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-07/internet/30485700_1_removal-requests-orkut-social-networking| url-status=dead| archive-date=13 December 2011| work=The Times of India| title=Kapil Sibal's web censorship: Indian govt wanted 358 items removed, says Google | date=7 December 2011}}</ref> The news of banning and blocking objectionable content on the internet was seen negatively by many Indian netizens and ''#IdiotKapilSibal'' trended on Twitter after netizens expressed the outrage over the move.<ref>{{cite web|last=Basu|first=Moni|title=Proposal to block harsh online criticism of leaders sparks anger in India|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-06/asia/world_asia_india-internet-regulation_1_facebook-and-twitter-social-media-sites-content|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630232738/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-06/asia/world_asia_india-internet-regulation_1_facebook-and-twitter-social-media-sites-content|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2012|publisher=CNN|access-date=21 January 2012}}</ref> It was seen as a way to block websites criticising the government. In an interview to NDTV, Kapil Sibal responded by saying that most of the content being asked to be removed was pornographic in nature and involved deities, which could have caused communal disharmony.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/never-asked-for-pre-screened-online-content-sibal-to-ndtv/218054?hp| newspaper=NDTV | title=Never asked for pre-screened content: Sibal to NDTV | date=9 December 2011 | access-date=27 May 2012}}</ref> While Kapil Sibal claimed that the government wanted to remove pornographic content, Google transparency report published by [[Company:Google|Google]] claims that the content that included protests against social leaders or used offensive language in reference to religious leaders were not removed.<ref>[https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/governmentrequests/IN/ "Google India Transparency Report"], ''Google India Transparency Report'', Google India Transparency Report</ref> Google on its transparency report states<ref>{{cite web|title=Google India Transparency Report 2011|url=https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/governmentrequests/IN/|access-date=15 December 2011}}</ref>

{{quote|We received requests from state and local law enforcement agencies to remove YouTube videos that displayed protests against social leaders or used offensive language in reference to religious leaders. We declined the majority of these requests and only locally restricted videos that appeared to violate local laws prohibiting speech that could incite enmity between communities. In addition, we received a request from a local law enforcement agency to remove 236 communities and profiles from orkut that were critical of a local politician. We did not comply with this request, since the content did not violate our Community Standards or local law.}}

Google on this matter has also said that<ref>{{cite news|title=India vows crackdown on offensive internet content|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16044554|access-date=15 December 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=6 December 2011}}</ref>

{{quote|When content is legal and does not violate our policies, we will not remove it just because it is controversial, as we believe that people's differing views, so long as they are legal, should be respected and protected.}}

While presently there are talks going on between the government and officials of internet companies like Google and Facebook, there is no consensus on this issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=Internet giants meet Sibal, object to censorship|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/internet-giants-meet-sibal-object-censorship/212210-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108025310/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/internet-giants-meet-sibal-object-censorship/212210-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 January 2012|newspaper=IBN|date=15 December 2011| access-date=27 May 2012}}</ref>

====Ban on Cartoons Against Corruption====
In 2011, a nationwide anti corruption movement India Against Corruption gathered pace in the leadership of a veteran [[Philosophy:Gandhism|Gandhian]] Anna Hazare demanding Jan Lokpal Bill. Political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi joined the crusade and started a cartoon based campaign, Cartoons Against Corruption to support the movement with his art. He launched a website www.cartoonsagainstcorruption.com consisting of his sharp anti-corruption cartoons targeting corrupt system and the politicos. He displayed his cartoons in the MMRDA ground, {{wipe|Mumbai}} during the hunger strike of Anna Hazare.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://art-leaks.org/2012/01/12/democracy-arrested-in-india-aseem-trivedi-continues-his-struggle-against-censorship/ |title=Democracy arrested in India: Aseem Trivedi continues his struggle against censorship |date=12 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/technologic/from-cyber-india-to-censor-india-groups-challenge-didactic-govt |title=From Cyber India to Censor India: Groups challenge didactic govt |date=29 April 2012 |access-date=20 June 2012 |archive-date=19 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719040833/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/technologic/from-cyber-india-to-censor-india-groups-challenge-didactic-govt |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Aseem Trivedi was exhibiting his political cartoons from Cartoons Against Corruption in the anti-corruption protest at the MMRDA grounds, when his website was suspended by Crime Branch, {{wipe|Mumbai}}. It was only 27 December, the first day of the protest, when he received an email from BigRock, the domain name registrar with which his website was registered, saying, "We have received a complaint from Crime Branch, {{wipe|Mumbai}} against domain name 'cartoonsagainstcorruption.com' for displaying objectionable pictures and texts related to flag and emblem of India. Hence we have suspended the domain name and its associated services."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-07/india/30601289_1_website-cartoons-domain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110044943/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-07/india/30601289_1_website-cartoons-domain |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 January 2012 |work=The Times of India |title=Website blocked, cartoonist moves content to another host |date=7 January 2012}}</ref>

The site was suspended after a complaint to the {{wipe|Mumbai}} Crime Branch by a {{wipe|Mumbai}}-based advocate and [[Social:Indian National Congress|congress]] leader, R.P. Pandey. The complaint stated that "defamatory and derogatory cartoons" were displayed as posters during Mr. Hazare's hunger strike in {{wipe|Mumbai}}. Noting that the posters were created by Aseem Trivedi and "are believed to be made at the instance of Shri Anna Hazare", the complaint requested "strict legal action in the matter".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/01/04/cartoonist-faces-ban-on-right-to-poke-fun/ |title=Cartoonist Faces Ban on Right to Poke Fun |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=4 January 2012|last1=Rana |first1=Preetika }}</ref>

Following his website's ban, Aseem Trivedi uploaded all the cartoons to a blog he quickly created.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=5881&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=21 |title=Why is this cartoonist caged? |date=23 April 2012}}</ref>

=== 2012 ===

==== Delhi court summons ====
[[File:Internet censorship in india.png|right|thumb|Screenshot of a blocked site]]
In January 2012, a [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]] court issued summonses to [[Company:Google|Google]] and [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] headquarters for objectionable content.<ref name="dcsummons">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.in/news/delhi-court-issues-summons-google-facebook-headquarters-objectionable-content-61322012|title=Delhi Court issues summons to Google, Facebook headquarters for objectionable content|last=Ribeiro|first=John|date=16 January 2012|publisher=PC World|page=1|access-date=17 January 2012|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118191042/http://www.pcworld.in/news/delhi-court-issues-summons-google-facebook-headquarters-objectionable-content-61322012|archive-date=18 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was followed by the Delhi High Court saying that websites such as Google and Facebook were liable for the content, posted on their platform by users, as they benefited from the content.<ref name="googlefbbenefit">{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/google-facebook-benefit-from-illegal-content-delhi-high-court/articleshow/11512987.cms|title=Google, Facebook benefit from illegal content: Delhi High Court|last=Julka|first=Harsimran |date=17 January 2012<!--, 01.31AM IST,-->|work=The Economic Times|access-date=17 January 2012|location=Mumbai}}</ref> Google responded to both the Court and the Minister for Communication and IT Kapil Sibal, stating that it was impossible to pre-screen content.<ref name="gfbimpossible">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_impossible-to-pre-screen-content-google-facebook_1638503|title=Impossible to pre-screen content: Google, Facebook|date=17 January 2012<!--, 9:15 IST -->|work=Daily News and Analysis|access-date=17 January 2012|location=New Delhi}}</ref> A plea was made by an educationist citing any sanctions against the online services will directly affect the fundamental right and will be against public interest.<ref>{{cite news|last=Garg|first=Abhinav|title=Crackdown on Facebook challenged in high court|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-19/internet/30642331_1_facebook-and-google-internet-users-search-engine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122121759/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-19/internet/30642331_1_facebook-and-google-internet-users-search-engine|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2012|access-date=19 January 2012|date=19 January 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|agency=TNN}}</ref> The Delhi Court also allowed Yahoo's case to be heard separately after it appealed citing it did not host any objectionable content and does not fall under the social networking site category.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yahoo approaches Delhi High Court; notice to Delhi Police|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-20/news/30647159_1_summons-delhi-police-objectionable-content|access-date=21 January 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=20 January 2012}}</ref>

==== Websites blocked ====
Starting 3 May 2012, a number of websites including [[Company:Vimeo|Vimeo]], [[Social:The Pirate Bay|The Pirate Bay]], Torrentz and other torrent sites were allegedly blocked by Reliance Communications, on orders from Department of Telecom without any stated reasons or prior warnings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Video sharing website Vimeo.com blocked in India|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/video-sharing-website-vimeo-dot-com-blocked-in-india/20120503.htm|access-date=4 May 2012|publisher=Rediff News|date=4 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Reliance Communications Blocks The Pirate Bay & Vimeo|url=http://www.medianama.com/2012/05/223-reliance-communications-blocks-the-pirate-bay-vimeo/|access-date=4 May 2012|publisher=Medianama|date=3 May 2012}}</ref>

==== Reliance DNS servers compromised ====
In May 2012, Anonymous India (AnonOpsIndia), a branch of the hacktivist group [[Organization:Anonymous (hacker group)|Anonymous]], hacked the servers of Reliance Communications to protest the blocking of [[Company:Vimeo|Vimeo]], [[Social:The Pirate Bay|The Pirate Bay]], Torrentz and other torrent sites. The ISP Reliance Communications stated that it simply followed a court order.<ref>{{cite news|title=Anonymous hacks Indian sites to protest against Vimeo, others being blocked|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anonymous-hacks-indian-sites-to-protest-against-vimeo-others-being-blocked-212240|newspaper=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Anonymous hacks into Reliance servers; prevents users from accessing Facebook, Twitter|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/anonymous-hacks-into-reliance-servers-prevents-users-from-accessing-facebook-twitter-223149|newspaper=gadgets.ndtv.com}}</ref> The group also hacked Reliance DNS servers preventing direct access to [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]], [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] and many other websites in India on 26 May 2012 for allegedly blocking its Twitter handle @OpIndia_Revenge.<ref>{{cite news|title=Anonymous hacks ISP to protest blocking of sites|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1694273/report-anonymous-hacks-isp-to-protest-blocking-of-sites|newspaper=dnaindia.com}}</ref> They went on to warn the Government to restore all the blocked websites till 9 June 2012, and has planned a nationwide protests on the same date.<ref>{{cite news|last=Patkar|first=Mihir|title=Hackers set June 9 deadline to unblock sites|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hackers-set-June-9-deadline-to-unblock-sites/articleshow/13542072.cms|access-date=28 May 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|date=27 May 2012|publisher=Times News Network|location=Mumbai}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Anonymous hackers to attack from 9 June|url=http://www.livemint.com/2012/05/25213700/Anonymous-hackers-to-attack-fr.html?atype=tp|access-date=28 May 2012|newspaper=Livemint.com|date=26 May 2012|first1=Leslie|last1=D'Monte|first2=Aminah|last2=Sheikh}}</ref> After this hack, Anonymous also released a list of websites that had been blocked by Reliance without any orders from the government, raising questions of private and unaccountable censorship by telecom providers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aamjanata.com/media/reliance-broadband-hacked-anonymous-blocked-sites-list-leaked/|title=Reliance Broadband hacked by Anonymous blocked sites list leaked}}</ref>

==== Annulment motion in Parliament against 2011 IT rules ====
An annulment motion against the Information Technology (Inter-mediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 moved by Member of Parliament (MP) P. Rajeev of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Rajya Sabha, was the first serious attempt by internet freedom activists to get the Information Technology Act, 2000 discussed and reviewed by the country's lawmakers. Not unexpectedly, the motion (specifically against the rules governing intermediaries – clause (zg) of subsection (2) of Section 87 read with subsection (2) of Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000) was not carried. However, the discussion that preceded it at least demonstrated the concerns of parliamentarians about what internet freedom activists have termed the "draconian" provisions of the IT Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epw.in/commentary/poor-guarantee-online-freedom-india.html |title=Poor Guarantee of Online Freedom in India |date=16 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/special/rajya-sabha-to-consider-repealing-kapil-sibals-it-rules-special/20120419.htm |title=Rajya Sabha to consider repealing Kapil Sibal's IT Rules |date=19 April 2012}}</ref>

==== Save Your Voice campaign ====
{{Main|Social:Save Your Voice}}
[[Social:Save Your Voice|Save Your Voice]] is a movement against Internet censorship in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_save-your-voice-a-movement-against-web-censorship_1661820 |title=Save Your Voice – A movement against Web censorship |date=13 May 2012}}</ref> It was founded by cartoonist Aseem Trivedi and journalist [[Biography:Alok Dixit|Alok Dixit]] in January 2012. The movement opposes the Information Technology Act of India and demands democratic rules for the governance of Internet. The campaign is targeted at the draconian rules framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=5881&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=21&valid=true |title=Why is this cartoonist caged? |date=23 April 2012}}</ref>

==== Madras High Court: Entire websites cannot be blocked ====
[[File:Bayimg.com blocked by orders of Department of Telecom on BSNL broadband network.png|thumb|Bayimg.com blocked by orders of Department of Telecom on BSNL broadband network in India as of 13 September 2012]]
On 15 June 2012, the Madras High Court has passed an order saying that entire websites cannot be blocked on the basis of "John Doe" orders. The High Court order reads:

{{quote|The order of interim injunction dated 25 April 2012 is hereby clarified that the interim injunction is granted only in respect of a particular URL where the infringing movie is kept and not in respect of the entire website. Further, the applicant is directed to inform about the particulars of URL where the interim movie is kept within 48 hours.<ref name=mediamhc>{{cite news|title=No More John Doe Orders? Indian ISPs Get Court Order For Specificity In URL Blocks|url=http://www.medianama.com/2012/06/223-no-more-john-doe-orders-indian-isps-get-court-order-for-specificity-in-urls/|access-date=27 June 2012|newspaper=Medianama|date=20 June 2012}}</ref>}}

The High court provided this clarification after being approached by a consortium of Internet Service Providers. The order has been welcomed by the Indian media and net users.<ref name=ndtvhc>{{cite news|title=ISPs get court relief, blocked websites may be history: Report|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/isps-get-court-relief-blocked-websites-may-be-history-report-233844|access-date=27 June 2012|newspaper=NDTV|date=20 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=No more blocking of entire websites?|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/no-more-blockingentire-websites/478261/|access-date=27 June 2012|newspaper=Business Standard|date=24 June 2012}}</ref>

==== Domain hosting sites ====
Starting in July 2012 several domain hosting sites were banned. When opening these sites, a message saying that these sites have been blocked by the Department of Telecommunications or court order is displayed.<ref name=mn5a>{{cite web |last=Pahwa |first=Nikhil |title=Domain Marketplace Sedo.co.uk Blocked In India |url=http://www.medianama.com/2012/07/223-domain-marketplace-sedo-co-uk-blocked-in-india/ |publisher=Medianama |date=17 July 2012 |access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://techblogger.com/buydomains-com-blocked-in-india-for-no-obvious-reason/ |title=BuyDomains.com Blocked in India for No Obvious Reason |author=Deepak Raj |publisher=TechBlogger.com |date=7 July 2012 |access-date=17 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909235909/http://techblogger.com/buydomains-com-blocked-in-india-for-no-obvious-reason/ |archive-date=9 September 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Sites such as Buydomains.com, Fabulous.com, and Sedo.co.uk were blocked.

==== Censorship following Assam violence ====
Between 18 and 21 August 2012 the Government of India ordered more than 300 specific URLs blocked. The blocked articles, accounts, groups, and videos were said to contain inflammatory content with fictitious details relating to Assam violence and supposedly promoting the North East exodus. These specific URLs include the domains of [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]], [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]], [[Company:YouTube|YouTube]], BlogSpot, [[Software:WordPress|WordPress]], Google Plus, Wikipedia, Times of India, and other websites.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/assam-violence-government-sets-12-hour-deadline-for-twitter-to-remove-hate-pages/articleshow/15610393.cms "Assam violence: Government sets 12-hour deadline for Twitter to remove hate pages"], ''The Economic Times'', 23 August 2012</ref> Many of the blocked URLs are Indian right wing activism against corruption.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/government-blocks-twitter-handles-of-journalists-right-wing-groups--here-is-the-proof/articleshow/15617834.cms "Government blocks Twitter handles of journalists, right-wing groups – here is the proof"], ''The Economic Times'', 23 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/government-asks-twitter-to-block-fake-pmo-india-accounts-site-fails-to-respond/articleshow/15610767.cms "Government asks Twitter to block fake 'PMO India' accounts; site fails to respond"], ''The Economic Times'', 23 August 2012</ref>

This raised questions about [[Philosophy:Freedom of speech|freedom of speech]] in the largest democracy in the world. It also raised questions about the censorship of people and posts debunking rumors.<ref>[http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/analysing-blocked-sites-riots-communalism "Analysing Latest List of Blocked Sites (Communalism & Rioting Edition)"], Pranesh Prakash, Centre for Internet and Society (Bangalore), 22 August 2012</ref> The Economic Times called it levels of censorship "that have not so far been seen in India".<ref name="et2012censorship">{{cite news | title=Government blocks Twitter handles of journalists, right-wing groups| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/government-blocks-twitter-handles-of-journalists-right-wing-groups/articleshow/15623616.cms  | work =The Economic Times | date = 24 August 2012 | access-date=24 August 2012 | first=Joji | last=Thomas Philip}}</ref> Over four days from 18 August, the Government of India issued directives to Internet Service Providers to block the [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] accounts of two [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]]-based journalists – Kanchan Gupta and Shiv Aroor – and Pravin Togadia. The government also blocked the website of [[Organization:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and several other right-wing websites.<ref name="et2012censorship" /> In addition, articles from Wikipedia, and news reports of violence in Assam on the websites of The Times of India, Firstpost, The Daily Telegraph and Al-jazeera were blocked.<ref name="et2012censorship" /> A petition was created to oppose Internet censorship in India by the Indian diaspora in the US.<ref>[http://afreusa.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/internet-censorship-in-india/ "Internet Censorship in India"], Americans for Freedom of Religious Expression (AFRE). Retrieved 29 August 2012</ref>

==== Telecom Minister's website defaced ====
In November 2012, Anonymous India defaced Indian Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's constituency website in protest against an amendment to the Information Technology Act and the recent crackdown on netizens for comments posted online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Information Technology Minister Website hacked by Anonymous India |url=http://hackread.com/indian-information-technology-minister-website-hacked-by-anonymous-india/ |publisher=Hack Read |date=30 November 2012}}</ref>

==== BSNL website defaced ====
[[Company:Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited|Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited]]'s (BSNL) website, www.bsnl.co.in, was hacked by Anonymous India on 13 December 2012. They defaced the website with a picture stating that they protest against section 66A of the IT Act and in support of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi and [[Biography:Alok Dixit|Alok Dixit]]. The duo have gone on a hunger striker to protest against Section 66A.<ref>{{cite news |title=BSNL website hacked by Anonymous India|author=Kim Arora |agency=TNN |date=13 December 2012 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-13/telecom/35796382_1_bsnl-website-aseem-trivedi-sec-66a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704100936/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-13/telecom/35796382_1_bsnl-website-aseem-trivedi-sec-66a |url-status=dead |newspaper=The Times of India|archive-date=4 July 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Indian telco BSNL's Web site breached by Anonymous India |author=Ellyne Phneah |url=https://www.zdnet.com/in/indian-telco-bsnls-web-site-breached-by-anonymous-india-7000008789/ |newspaper=ZDNet |date=14 December 2012}}</ref>

===2013===

====39 websites blocked====
In an order dated 13 June 2013, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed Indian Internet service providers (ISPs) to block 39 websites. The order did not specify a reason or law under which the websites were blocked. Most are web forums, where Internet users share images and URLs to pornographic files. However, some of the websites are also image and file hosts, mostly used to store and share files that are not pornographic. While watching or distributing child pornography is illegal in India, watching adult pornography is not. The blocked websites are hosted outside India and claim to operate under the {{wipe|United States}}. rule that requires performers to be over 18 years of age.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130628104007/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-26/internet/40205551_1_isps-websites-urls "Govt goes after porn, makes ISPs ban sites"], Javed Anwer, Times News Network (TNN), ''Times of India'', 26 June 2013</ref>

===2014===

====File sharing and file hosting sites banned====
In an order dated 23 June 2014, the Delhi High Court upon a request made by Sony Entertainment ordered 472 file sharing and file hosting websites blocked, including [[Social:The Pirate Bay|The Pirate Bay]], [[Software:Google Docs|Google Docs]], Google Videos, and [[Company:Google|Google]]'s URL shorterner (goo.gl). This is contrary to the 2012 Madras High Court orders which blocked only URLs referencing web pages with illegal content, rather than entire websites.<ref>[http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/dhcqrydisp_o.asp?pn=119642&yr=2014 "Order in Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd vs. Sunit Signh and ORS …"], High Court of Delhi at New Delhi, CS(OS) 1860/2014, 23 June 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.</ref> However, it was reported on 7 July 2014 that an updated court order blocks just 219 sites. Included are many file storage and torrent websites, but no Google sites.<ref>[http://www.medianama.com/2014/07/223-world-cup-2014-472-websites-including-google-docs-blocked-in-india-following-sony-complaint/ "219 websites blocked in India, after Sony complaint"], Nikhil Pahwa, MediaNama, 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.</ref>

====Whistle blower Savukku's site blocked by Judge C T Selvam====
In an interim order on the petition filed by news reader Mahalaxmi, Justice Cyril Selvam blocked the entire website www.savukku.net. This order on 28 February 2014 directly contradicts an earlier order by Madras High Court on 15 April 2012 against banning entire website instead of specific URLs.<ref>[http://www.medianama.com/2012/06/223-no-more-john-doe-orders-indian-isps-get-court-order-for-specificity-in-urls/  "No More John Doe Orders? Indian ISPs Get Court Order For Specificity In URL Blocks"], Nikhil Pahwa, MediaNama, 20 June 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.</ref>

Earlier in Feb, savukku.net had exposed the tapes of conversations between DMK MP Kanimozhi and former Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jaffer Sait, Jaffer Sait and Kalaignar TV's former director Sharad Kumar, and DMK President M Karunanidhi's Secretary K.Shanmuganathan and Jaffer Sait.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in">[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/madras-high-court-orders-to-shut-down-website-that-exposed-2g-tapes/1/346215.html  "Madras High court orders to shut down website that exposed 2G tapes"], R Ramasubramanian, India Today, 28 February 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.</ref>

Judge C T Selvam is considered to be close to Karunanidhi's family.

{{quote|Justice CT Selvam became judge of the Madras High Court when Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu during 2006–2011. Just a couple of hours before taking oath as judge Justice Selvam called on Karunanidhi and got his blessings and this was revealed through a govt press release with photograph by the Tamil Nadu government's Information Department.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in"/>}}

The Department of Telecommunications ordered blocking of 32 websites including the [[Internet Archive]], [[GitHub]], [[Company:Dailymotion|Dailymotion]] and [[Company:Vimeo|Vimeo]], as they could host terror content relating to ISIS but the sites are no longer blocked as of 1 January 2015 as the order had been reversed and the unblocking process has begun on compliant websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lex-warrier.in/2014/12/32-websites-blocked-india-dot-circular/|title=32 websites blocked in India after DoT circular|date=31 December 2014|work=lex-warrier.in|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>

===2015===
;Porn ban
On 1 August 2015, 857 pornographic sites were blocked under section 79 3(b) of Information Technology Act, 2000, to restrict access to pornographic content.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/3fdwhm/are_porn_sites_getting_blocked/?sort=new|title=are porn sites getting blocked? • /r/india|work=reddit.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref> This list was given to government officials by petitioner Kamlesh Vaswani on 17 October 2014 in Supreme Court of India. The original list was generated by Suresh Kumar Shukla,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/Vaswani-and-the-puritan-league/articleshow/48407163.cms|title=Vaswani and the puritan league - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33955916|title=The men waging war against pornography in India|first=Soutik|last=Biswas|date=17 August 2015|work=BBC News}}</ref> founder of Filternet Foundation which makes pornography-blocking software and contained popular sites.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://filternet.in/2014/08/05/list-of-porn-sites-provided-to-kamlesh-vaswani-pil-petitioner/ |title=List of porn sites provided to Kamlesh Vaswani (PIL petitioner) – Filternet parental control |access-date=1 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612003253/http://filternet.in/2014/08/05/list-of-porn-sites-provided-to-kamlesh-vaswani-pil-petitioner/ |archive-date=12 June 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The block was ordered by the government Department of Telecom on 31 July 2015. A copy of the order is available through media websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/porn-ban-india-complete-list-857-websites-blocked-dot-order-641591|title=Porn Ban in India: Complete List of 857 Websites Blocked on DoT Order|last=IBTimes|work=ibtimes.co.in|access-date=18 January 2017|date=4 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150803/nation-current-affairs/article/porn-ban-complete-list-857-porn-websites-blocked-india|title=Banned: Complete list of 857 porn websites blocked in India|date=4 August 2015|work=deccanchronicle.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/tech/porn-ban-in-india-sparks-censorship-debate/113070/|title=857 porn sites banned in India; Govt plans ombudsman for Net content|date=3 August 2015|work=financialexpress.com|access-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505234757/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/tech/porn-ban-in-india-sparks-censorship-debate/113070/|archive-date=5 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Naqvi Press 2012">{{cite news | last=Naqvi | first=Muneeza | agency=Associated Press | title=India orders telecoms to block more than 850 adult websites | website=Yahoo News Singapore | date=21 April 2012 | url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/india-orders-telecoms-block-more-115701120.html | access-date=3 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135210/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/india-orders-telecoms-block-more-115701120.html | archive-date=5 March 2016 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-government-orders-blocking-of-857-pornographic-websites-2110545|title=Government orders blocking of 857 pornographic websites – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=3 August 2015}}</ref>

The ban was lifted on 5 August the same year, by Department of Telecommunications. Porn is major internet traffic (as high as 70%) and telecom companies were losing revenue. Additionally people criticised the law enforcement (section 67 of IT Act 2000).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/VhuXq3jfADn2CrhK8nJ7pL/Oops-Indian-ISPs-telcos-could-lose-3070-of-data-revenue.html|title=Oops, Indian ISPs, telcos could lose 30-70% of data revenue because of porn ban|first=Shauvik|last=Ghosh|date=4 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33810775|title=The twisting tale of India's porn ban|first=Sanjoy|last=Majumder|date=8 August 2015|work=BBC News}}</ref>

===2016===
In August 2016, some Bollywood studios came up with a public education message that black money generated from pre-release of their content through offline markets are sourced for terrorism, though sources were not clear. Reports show that piracy losses are significantly high.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/showbiz/endorsing-piracy-akin-to-endorsing-terrorism-producer-ritesh-sidhwani/356034/|title=Endorsing piracy akin to endorsing terrorism: Producer Ritesh Sidhwani|date=24 August 2016|work=financialexpress.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>

In September 2016, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told a court that [[Company:Google|Google]], [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]], and [[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]] had agreed to censor all information on their search engines related to prenatal sex discernment in order to comply with the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994.<ref name="bloomberg-sexdetermban">{{cite news|title=Google, Microsoft, Yahoo Will Block Indian Gender-Selection Ads|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-19/google-microsoft-yahoo-will-block-indian-gender-selection-ads|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=19 September 2016 |access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="ht-prenatalblock">{{cite web|title=Internet search engines to block info on sex determination tests|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/internet-search-engines-to-block-information-on-sex-determination-tests/story-XTX919VWPTOtlUIXFlJ8SN.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919223125/http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/internet-search-engines-to-block-information-on-sex-determination-tests/story-XTX919VWPTOtlUIXFlJ8SN.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2016|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref>

===2017===
In August 2017, the Madras High Court ordered that the [[Internet Archive]] be blocked in India, following complaints by film studios who alleged that the service had been used to disseminate copyright-infringing copies of its films.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40875528|title=Bollywood blocks the Internet Archive|last=Kelion|first=Leo|date=9 August 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref>

===2018===

;Reinstating porn ban
In October 2018, the government directed Internet service providers to block 827 websites that host pornographic content following an order by the Uttarakhand High Court, effectively reinstating the previously rescinded 2015 porn ban. While the Uttarakhand High Court had asked to block 857 websites, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) also removed from 30 portals without any pornographic content listings. The court asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to ban pornographic websites in India, citing an incident from Dehradun where a 10th standard girl was raped by four of her seniors. The accused later told Police that they did so after watching pornographic content on the web. As per, directions of Uttarakhand High Court and Regulations of DoT, Internet Service Providers of India banned pornographic websites across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/ban-porn-sites-or-lose-license-high-court-to-isps-1351836-2018-09-28|title=Ban porn sites or lose license: High Court to ISPs|publisher= India Today|date=28 September 2018|website=India Today|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref>

===2019===
Between January and October the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology revealed that the ministry issued the blocking orders for 20 websites in a response to an RTI query filed by SFLC India a [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]]-based not-for-profit legal services organisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Websites blocked by MeitY in 2019 |url=https://sflc.in/websites-blocked |website=SFLC |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

During the same period, the ministry ordered social media platforms to take down 3433 URLs,<ref>{{cite web |title=Linking of Aadhaar with Social Media |url=http://164.100.24.220/loksabhaquestions/annex/172/AU471.pdf |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> under Section 69A of India's Information Technology Act to block users and posts across Social Media Platforms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Social media censorship in India has increased over five fold since 2016 |url=https://qz.com/india/1753116/modi-government-ramps-up-twitter-facebook-censorship/amp/ |website=QZ |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> An Indian court ordered [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]], [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]], and [[Company:Google|Google]] to remove government flagged content globally, not just in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swami Ramdev & Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. v. Facebook, Inc. et al. |url=http://lobis.nic.in/ddir/dhc/PMS/judgement/23-10-2019/PMS23102019S272019.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107215809/http://lobis.nic.in/ddir/dhc/PMS/judgement/23-10-2019/PMS23102019S272019.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

In February, Indian government had proposed giving itself new powers, under the new proposed rules, Indian officials could demand Facebook, Google, Twitter, [[Software:TikTok|TikTok]], [[Software:WhatsApp|WhatsApp]] and others to remove posts or videos that the officials deem unlawful or invasion of privacy and could trace a message to their original senders.<ref>{{cite news |title=India Proposes Chinese-Style Internet Censorship |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/technology/india-internet-censorship.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=14 February 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020|last1=Goel |first1=Vindu }}</ref>

Over 130 complaints around the country from users appeared about blocked access to VPN, proxy sites. There were also reports of platforms like [[Software:Telegram|Telegram]], [[Company:Reddit|Reddit]] and [[Company:SoundCloud|SoundCloud]] being inaccessible. There was no official word by the DoT for why were these platforms blocked, a common practice of the DoT which has a record of being non-transparent about the blockings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Not just porn, Indian telecom firms are blocking other websites, too |url=https://qz.com/india/1547142/not-just-porn-indian-telecom-firms-are-blocking-other-websites-too/ |website=QZ India |date=11 February 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

=== 2020 ===
In June 2020, in retaliation for a military clash between Indian and Chinese troops in a disputed territory along their shared border between Ladakh and western China, the Indian government banned around 60 mobile apps published by Chinese companies. This most notably included [[Software:TikTok|TikTok]], [[Software:WeChat|WeChat]], and mobile games such as ''[[Software:PUBG Mobile|PUBG Mobile]].''<ref name="india_ban">{{cite news |last=Doval |first=Pankaj |date=30 June 2020 |title=TikTok, UC Browser among 59 Chinese apps blocked as threat to sovereignty |website=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/chinese-apps-banned-in-india-tiktok-uc-browser-among-59-chinese-apps-blocked-as-threat-to-sovereignty/articleshow/76699679.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630043219/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/chinese-apps-banned-in-india-tiktok-uc-browser-among-59-chinese-apps-blocked-as-threat-to-sovereignty/articleshow/76699679.cms |archive-date=30 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=29 June 2020 |title=India bans TikTok after Himalayan border clash with Chinese troops |website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/29/india-bans-tiktok-after-himalayan-border-clash-with-chinese-troops |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629220002/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/29/india-bans-tiktok-after-himalayan-border-clash-with-chinese-troops |archive-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Abi-Habib |first=Maria |date=29 June 2020 |title=India Bans Nearly 60 Chinese Apps, Including TikTok and WeChat |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/world/asia/tik-tok-banned-india-china.html |access-date=13 November 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The stated reason for the bans were to protect the sovereignty, integrity, and security of India, and protect its citizens from software that was "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers outside India".<ref name="auto1" /><ref>{{cite news |date=29 June 2020 |title=India bans TikTok and dozens more Chinese apps |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53225720 |url-status=live |access-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811185240/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53225720 |archive-date=11 August 2020}}</ref> Apar Gupta, executive director of the [[Organization:Internet Freedom Foundation|Internet Freedom Foundation]], said the censorship was absent from well-defined national security criteria and has "impacted more Indians than any before".<ref name="auto3">{{Cite news|last1=Zhong|first1=Raymond|last2=Schultz|first2=Kai|date=30 June 2020|title=With India's TikTok Ban, the World's Digital Walls Grow Higher|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/technology/india-china-tiktok.html|access-date=16 September 2020}}</ref> The Indian Express said that the loss of revenue may drive Indian TikTok stars to rival platforms.<ref>{{cite news |title=TikTok stars feel lost, but loss of revenue might push for a quick shift to rival platforms |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/tiktok-stars-feel-lost-but-loss-of-revenue-might-push-for-a-quick-shift-to-rival-platforms-6512826/ |agency=The Indian Express}}</ref> The Times of India published an editorial supporting the block.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blocking China: Move against Chinese apps is welcome recognition that the contest with Beijing is multidimensional |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/blocking-china-move-against-chinese-apps-is-welcome-recognition-that-the-contest-with-beijing-is-multidimensional/ |agency=Times of India}}</ref>

Around 40 websites operated by the pro-Khalistan outfit Sikh For Justice (SFJ) were blocked in response to SFJ starting registrations on its websites for Referendum 2020. India does not recognize "[[Social:Self-determination|Right to Self Determination]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Access to 40 websites run by SFJ blocked in India: Centre |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/access-to-40-websites-run-by-sfj-blocked-in-india-centre-108979 |website=Tribune India |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> There were several reports of the search engine [[Software:DuckDuckGo|DuckDuckGo]] being inaccessible for the Indian users.<ref>{{cite web |title=Users report privacy first search engine DuckDuckGo not working in India |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/users-report-privacy-first-search-engine-duckduckgo-not-working-in-india-11593658585726.html |website=Live Mint |date=2 July 2020 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

In July, environmental groups leading the movement against the Indian Government's new [[Engineering:Environmental impact assessment|Environmental Impact Assessment]] (EIA) 2020 Draft reported that their websites were inaccessible to users in India. [[Earth:School strike for climate|Fridays for Future]] India, and several other environmental collectives reported that their websites were blocked/taken down, for reasons unknown to them, without any prior notice of any sorts.<ref>{{cite web |title=EIA 2020: Modi Govt Blocks Website Campaigning Against Controversial Draft Green Law |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/eia-2020-news-narendra-modi-government-environment_in_5f0e0f66c5b63b8fc10f9fb6 |website=HuffPost India |date=15 July 2020 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

During the [[Social:Curfew|curfew]] in Jammu and Kashmir after revocation of its autonomous status on 5 August 2019, the Indian government approached Twitter to block accounts which were spreading anti-India content.<ref>{{cite news
| url        = https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-tells-twitter-to-block-accounts-inciting-anti-india-content-using-kashmir/story-V10neIY9VmgfI8rLB67Y4N.html
| title      = Govt tells Twitter to block accounts inciting anti-India content using Kashmir
| publisher  = Hindustan Times
| date       = 12 August 2019
}}</ref>

=== 2021 ===

==== Twitter during farmers' protests ====
In early February, [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] refused to comply with orders from the Indian government to ban over a thousand accounts related to farmers' protests. The government threatened Twitter employees with up to seven years of jail if the company fails to remove certain accounts that the government alleged to be spreading misinformation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Twitter concerned for staff in India after row over account removals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/twitter-concerned-for-staff-in-india-after-row-over-account-removals |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=the Guardian |date=9 February 2021 }}</ref>

Subsequently, on 10 February 2021 the company took action on more than 500 accounts and also reduced the visibility of several hashtags that violated Twitter's rules. Twitter also said that accounts belonging to news media outlets, journalists, activists or politicians were not taken down.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=10 February 2021|title=Twitter suspends over 500 accounts in India after government warning|work=Techcrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/09/twitter-takes-actions-on-over-500-accounts-in-india-amid-government-warning/|access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref> The company's defiance angered officials, which led to the government<ref name=":1" /> issuing new rules aimed at social media companies to comply with local laws. Under these rules, the social media companies are required to publish a compliance report every month detailing the complaints and the actions they took on them.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Iyengar|first=Rishi|date=25 February 2021|title=India imposes new rules on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube|work=CNN Business|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/25/tech/india-twitter-facebook-social-media-guidelines|access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref>

==== Government's handling of COVID-19 pandemic ====
In late April, citizens were angry with the government's poor performance in handling the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gettleman|first=Jeffrey|date=24 April 2021|title=As Covid-19 Devastates India, Deaths Go Undercounted|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/world/asia/india-coronavirus-deaths.html|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> and took it to social media to express their dissatisfaction. The government has made an emergency order to Twitter to take down tweets from high-profile users that criticised its handling of the pandemic. Twitter has complied and withheld these tweets for users in India.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=24 April 2021|title=India orders Twitter to take down tweets critical of its coronavirus handling|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/24/india-orders-twitter-to-take-down-tweets-critical-of-its-coronavirus-handling/|url-status=live|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424213424/https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/24/india-orders-twitter-to-take-down-tweets-critical-of-its-coronavirus-handling/|archive-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> The hashtag #crocodiletears, which was criticism of Modi, was ordered to be removed and have information on users who tweeted it handed over. The company resisted, and officials claimed that it was being used by terrorists, then a later claim was made that it had pornography. A Twitter investigator found some posts being sent from a location near a police building, and concluded that the government was trying to justify the censorship requests.<ref name=":1" />

==== Twitter labelling BJP politicians' tweets ====
In May, Twitter labelled tweets as "manipulated media" from several [[Social:Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] politicians including Sambit Patra, its spokesperson. In the tweet, he claimed that [[Social:Indian National Congress|Congress]] was using a "toolkit" to derail the government's efforts of handling the pandemic. However, fact-checking has debunked the claim. The government has expressed strong objections over the labels saying Twitter acted prejudicially and asked the company to remove the labels in the interest of "fairness and equity."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=21 May 2021|title=India objects to 'manipulated' label on politicians tweets; asks removal of reference to 'Indian variant' of coronavirus|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/21/india-twitter-politicians-tweets-manipulated/|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523174718/https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/21/india-twitter-politicians-tweets-manipulated/|archive-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>

Subsequently, Delhi Police, with TV cameras,<ref name=":1" /> visited Twitter's [[Place:Delhi|Delhi]] and Gurgaon offices to seek more information. After an hour, the police has vacated the premises as the offices were closed and no employees were present to engage with. In a statement, the Delhi Police has disputed calling the search event as "raiding."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Manish|date=24 May 2021|title=Police in India visited Twitter offices over 'manipulated media' label|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/24/delhi-police-run-by-indias-central-government-raids-twitter-offices-over-manipulated-label/|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524193051/https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/24/delhi-police-run-by-indias-central-government-raids-twitter-offices-over-manipulated-label/|archive-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> Reportedly, the police did not hold a search warrant.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bhargava|first=Yuthika|date=24 May 2021|title=Toolkit {{!}} Delhi Police officials visit Twitter office|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/toolkit-delhi-police-conducts-raid-at-twitter-office/article34635468.ece|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524174147/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/toolkit-delhi-police-conducts-raid-at-twitter-office/article34635468.ece|archive-date=24 May 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Twitter expressed concerns for its employees, intimidation tactics by the police and potential threat to freedom of expression in India. It also said it was particularly concerned over the rule where the compliance officer, to be set up by social media companies with over five million users under new social media rules, is criminally liable for the content on the platform. It has requested the government a three-month extension to enforce the new requirements.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 May 2021|title=Twitter worry over 'freedom of expression' in India|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57265331|url-status=live|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527105456/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57265331|archive-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> In a RTI reply to the [[Organization:Internet Freedom Foundation|Internet Freedom Foundation]] the Ministry of Electronics and IT said it did not have powers to direct Twitter to not label these tweets as misleading.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=Revealed: RTI Request uncovers MeitY letters to Twitter asking to remove the 'manipulated media' tag |url=https://internetfreedom.in/revealed-rti-request-uncovers-meity-letters-to-twitter-asking-to-remove-the-manipulated-media-tag/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Internet Freedom Foundation}}</ref>

The company became more and more compliant to taking down tweets and accounts that the government requested, especially after Elon Musk's purchase of the company. Through a wave of new regulations and the weight of law enforcement agencies, the government changed Twitter from being a company very resistant to censorship requests.<ref name=":1" />

===2022===
In 2022, under national security grounds, new regulations were implemented by CERT-In to require the retention of customer data by VPN, web hosting, and cloud service providers for five years. Some VPN providers, such as [[Company:ExpressVPN|ExpressVPN]] and Surfshark, announced that they would no longer use servers under Indian jurisdiction in order to preserve the privacy of their customers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Manisha |title=Explainer: New VPN rules, why companies are upset and what they mean for you |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/explainer-new-vpn-rules-why-vpn-companies-are-upset-and-what-they-mean-for-you/articleshow/92270798.cms |access-date=16 August 2022 |date=17 June 2022}}</ref>

=== 2023 ===
In April 2023,  new regulations were enacted that will require online intermediaries to censor and remove content that is deemed to be false or misleading by a body appointed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2023-04-06 |title=India to require Facebook and Twitter rely on gov't fact checking |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/06/india-cracks-down-on-betting-games/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=IT Ministry notifies body to flag 'fake' content about govt, PIB reference removed |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/it-ministry-body-to-flag-fake-content-8542980/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Blocked websites==
The process of blocking websites in India is quite non-transparent and the government does not maintain a public list of all the websites that have been blocked.<ref>{{cite web |title=To preserve freedoms online, amend the IT Act |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/to-preserve-freedoms-online-amend-the-it-act/story-aC0jXUId4gpydJyuoBcJdI.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=15 April 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> Over the years, the government has banned thousands of websites and URLs in the country with the help of internet service providers or under the directive of the courts. For example, in August 2015, the government banned at least 857 sites for their pornographic contents and in June 2016, the government further banned over 200 URLs for providing 'Escort Services'.<ref>{{cite news|title=Banned URLs: Here is the full list of the blocked websites|url=http://zeenews.india.com/internet-social-media/banned-urls-here-is-the-full-list-of-the-blocked-websites_1921363.html|access-date=30 April 2017|agency=Zee News}}</ref>

In August 2015, the Central government of India ordered TRAI and internet service providers based in India to ban domestic and international porn websites. In response, nearly 857 websites were blocked.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why India's order to block 857 websites might not work|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/porn-ban-govt-asks-isps-to-block-857-websites-but-will-it-work|access-date=22 August 2015|agency=PTI|publisher=Indian Express}}</ref> Star India Pvt. Ltd., an entertainment company owned by 21st Century Fox have successfully gained authorization through hoodwinking the court. They can now force ISPs to block entire websites to tackle Internet piracy and sharing for their copyrighted content. This was gained through falsifying data that these sites are uploading videos when it is a user centered activity and covering up the fact each of these websites have active departments to regulate any sorts of infringement and misuse of their services. Prathiba M Singh, who had represented Star India, cited poor resources of media giants like Star India, for targeting these domains without block expiry period and their legal team termed these sites as "rogue sites" and expressed delight in their successive filing from 2014 and incognito win to violate freedom of trade on the Internet at least in India. Though some critics say this would be lifted eventually by seeing the fallacy as in similar previous cases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/india-reverses-ban-on-internet-porn-after-public-outrage-ridicule-20150804-giroi8.html|title=India reverses ban on Internet porn after public outrage, ridicule|first1=Parth|last1=M.N|first2=Shashank|last2=Bengali|date=5 August 2015|via=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Many has raised there voice through social media that the proceedings being overly suspicious and was gained for an alternate means, which is aimed for profiting rather than the initial spike of alleged piracy of these copyrighted contents and strengthening an ongoing practice of bottle-necking the internet users to forced payment and culture of on-demand online access to content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/delhi-high-court-wants-websites-steaming-pirated-content-banned-2948459/|title=Delhi High Ccourt wants 73 websites banned for streaming pirated videos|date=1 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Delhi-HC-upholds-blocking-for-pirate-websites/articleshow/53487503.cms |title=Delhi HC upholds blocking for pirate websites - Times of India |website=The Times of India |access-date=17 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230170004/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-hc-upholds-blocking-for-pirate-websites/articleshow/53487503.cms |archive-date=30 December 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> This has happened in the same week were media personnel's filter-free over indulgences to manipulate ongoing cases and political statements without any guidelines were appalled by Lawyers in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Lawyers-beat-up-media-reporters-at-Kerala-High-Court/articleshow/53288951.cms|title=Lawyers beat up media reporters at Kerala High Court – Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/no-ban-imposed-on-journalists-in-reporting-court-proceedings-116073000709_1.html|title=No ban imposed on journalists in reporting court proceedings|agency=Press Trust of India|date=30 July 2016|via=Business Standard|newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref>

In 2016, India also put forwarded a new plan to control internet usage of its netizens. Accessing or pop-ups from ad services or malware infection of websites banned in India might invite 3 years of jail sentence and a fine of {{INRConvert|300|k|year=2016}}. Until now, URLs and websites were blocked using DNS-filtering. This means the DNS of the blocked site was added to a list maintained by the internet service provider and whenever a user tried connecting to that site, the DNS server of the service provider would block that request. Officials suspect netizens are circumventing these measures knowingly or unknowingly. The government also intends to provide broad educational information classes, provide free operating systems with utilities for malware, free access to internet, and for computerized activities of daily life as a primary method. Currently, the government is joining hands with media content providers and internet service providers like big companies Tata Communications and Airtel to manage a number of internet gateways in India. Though many legal, technical and social action groups consider this as a threatening approach. Many social action groups say that these as inappropriate time and money spend while real issues like unemployment, access to education, freedom of practicing religion, women and children safety, drug use are ever rising. Lawyers with technical background say this might be warning message and DNS filtering is a better practice for enforcing Anti-piracy laws in current India. Some of them are also wary about how will these actions get reflected in terms hostility towards human rights, implications of these fines, profiteering stakeholders agendas, is it the government's first step to a long-term plan "monitoring the whole world wide web" as China does. Many of these services are [[Malvertising|malvertising]], click away access and pops ups, how does the government intend to tackle these issues and problems with the current plan that is heavily in favor of corporation's margin and doesn't cater to its users needs. Other groups express their fear and uneasiness whether these will lead to [[Social:The Emergency (India)|emergency]] era like arrests where anything that government bodies believe is an "offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-you-may-get-3-years-in-jail-fine-of-3-lakhs-for-viewing-a-torrent-site-in-india-2247460|title=You may get 3 years in jail, fine of 3 lakhs for viewing a torrent site in India – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

Warning that allegedly created for TATA and Airtel users with threats implied beyond normal DoT remainder and block message shows as:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/You-may-face-3-years-jail-term-for-viewing-Torrent-website-in-India/articleshow/53805885.cms|title=You may face 3 years jail term for viewing Torrent websites in India – Gadgets Now|website=Gadget Now|date=22 August 2016}}</ref>

{{quote|This URL has been blocked under the instructions of the Competent Government Authority or in compliance with the orders of a Court of competent jurisdiction. Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for three years and also fine of up to Rs. 3,00,000/-. Any person aggrieved by any such blocking of this URL may contact at urlblock [at] tatacommunications [dot] com who will, within 48 hours, provide the details of relevant proceedings under which the relevant High Court or Authority can be approached for redressal of the grievance}}

Current situation that have led to this sudden moves is reported to be by influence of film studios in India and courts who have regularly issued orders in the favor for them. Often these are done with the contracted lawyers of film studios approach courts in regular intervals ahead and after a movie's release seeking preventive blocks on the URLs they compile and list. This lists in reality are unprofessionally and "poorly compiled and often block is sought on full websites just on the basis of whims and fancies". "Once this order are issued, the copies of the order along with the list of URLs to be blocked go to DoT, which then they pass an order to internet service providers to block these sites". Once a URL is blocked it remains blocked, even years after the release of the film without an expiry. Patent lawyers also suggest to make practical changes in its laws according to the current e-environment like making materials accessible within six months to one year and protecting the content from manipulation and creative infringement of the same under copyright laws to lessen the current piracy problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/are-you-a-criminal-now-users-may-get-3-yr-in-jail-for-viewing-torrent-site-blocked-url-in-india/1/745181.html|title=Are you a criminal now? Users may get 3 years in jail for viewing torrent site, blocked URL in India}}</ref>

In a response to an RTI application by SFLC India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that 14221 websites/URLs were blocked between 2010 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Over 14000 Websites Blocked By MEITY |url=https://sflc.in/over-14000-websites-blocked-meity |website=SFLC India |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> In 2011, journalist Tanul Thakur created the Dowry Calculator, a satirical website on the dowry system. In 2018, the website was blocked by the Government of India, which was challenged by Mr. Thakur with legal assistance by the [[Organization:Internet Freedom Foundation|Internet Freedom Foundation]] (IFF) in November 2019 before the Delhi High Court, as illegal and unconstitutional. The case came up for hearing on 21 March 2022, and the Court recorded Mr. Thakur's submissions that he was not given an opportunity to be heard before the website was blocked. It has directed the Union of India to provide the entire case record, and asked the Union of India to consider giving Mr. Thakur a post-decisional hearing, including an opportunity to take corrective measures, if necessary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=HC asks MEITY to consider hearing creator of blocked site |url=https://internetfreedom.in/delhi-high-court-calls-for-case-files/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Internet Freedom Foundation}}</ref>

In February 2022, the website of [[Organization:VideoLAN|VideoLAN]], the developers of the [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] media player software VLC Media Player, was blocked by most Indian ISPs. It was reported that the block may have been related to a cyberattack by a Chinese group, which had been using compromised versions of VLC as a payload for malicious software. In October 2022, VideoLAN, with assistance from the IFF, filed a legal notice seeking information on the block, which they accused of breaching the site blocking rules by not providing notice or an opportunity for a hearing. While information on the block was not published, the block was lifted in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2022-10-04 |title=VLC-developer VideoLAN sends legal notice to Indian ministries over ban |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/04/vlc-developer-videolan-sends-legal-notice-to-indian-ministries-over-ban/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=VLC media player banned in India: 'Chinese connection' and three reasons why you should not be worried - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/vlc-media-player-banned-in-india-chinese-connection-and-three-reasons-why-you-should-not-be-worried/articleshow/93617442.cms |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2022-11-14 |title=India lifts download ban on VLC |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/14/india-lifts-download-ban-on-vlc/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Internet shutdowns==
India leads the world, in the list of Internet Shutdowns. In 2018, as reported by [[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]], out of 196 documented Internet Shutdowns globally, India accounted for 134 of them.<ref>{{cite web |title=The state of internet shutdowns |url=https://www.accessnow.org/the-state-of-internet-shutdowns-in-2018/ |website=Access Now |date=8 July 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> The reasons for the shutdowns range from protests and political unrest to elections and exams. Internet Shutdowns have often helped the government to throttle dissent and mass-public gatherings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Launching STOP: the #KeepItOn internet shutdown tracker |url=https://www.accessnow.org/keepiton-shutdown-tracker/ |website=Access Now |date=7 September 2017 |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> Aside from the socio-political impact, ICRIER estimates that between 2012 and 2017, 16,315 hours of Internet shutdown in India cost the economy approximately $3.04 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Anatomy of an Internet Blackout: Measuring the Economic Impact of Internet Shutdowns in India |url=https://icrier.org/pdf/Anatomy_of_an_Internet_Blackout_ppt.pdf |website=ICRIER |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> It was estimated that internet shutdowns caused US$2.8 billion of damage to India's economy in 2020, causing harm to businesses, teaching and healthcare.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chatterjee|first=Abhishek|date=5 January 2021|title=Internet shutdowns in 2020 costs India $2.8 bn|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet-shutdowns-in-2020-costs-india-28-bn/article33501483.ece|access-date=3 February 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Between 2012 and 2017, the economic damage was estimated at US$3 billion.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|author=Ankita Chakravarti |date=March 4, 2021 |title=India saw highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2020|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/india-saw-highest-number-of-internet-shutdowns-in-the-world-in-2020-1775608-2021-03-04|access-date=15 June 2021|magazine=India Today}}</ref> In 2021, India recorded total 317.5 hours of internet shutdown and 840 hours of [[Bandwidth throttling]] costing $582.8 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns|url=https://www.top10vpn.com/research/cost-of-internet-shutdowns/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=www.top10vpn.com|language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Instances of Internet Shutdowns 2012–2022
|-
! Year !! Number of Shutdowns
|-
| 2012 || 03<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Internet Shutdowns Tracker |url=https://internetshutdowns.in/ |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2013 || 05<ref name=":3" />
|-
| 2014 || 06<ref name=":3" />
|-
| 2015 || 14<ref name=":3" />
|-
| 2016 || 31<ref name=":3" />
|-
| 2017 || 79<ref name=":3" />
|-
| 2018 || 136<ref name=":3" />
|-
| 2019 || 109 (according to internetshutdowns.in),<ref name=":3" /> 121 (according to [[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]])<ref name=":0" />
|-
| 2020 || 132 (according to internetshutdowns.in),<ref name=":3" /> 109 (according to [[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]])<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2021
|100 (according to internetshutdowns.in<ref name=":3" />), 106 (according to [[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 April 2022 |title=Internet shutdowns in 2021: the return of digital authoritarianism |url=https://www.accessnow.org/internet-shutdowns-2021/ |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=[[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]]}}</ref>) 
|-
|2022
|90 (according to internetshutdowns.in<ref name=":3" />), 84 (according to [[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2023 |title=Weapons of Control, Shields of Impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022 |url=https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2022-KIO-Report-final.pdf |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=[[Organization:Access Now|Access Now]]}}</ref>
|}

==List of banned phone apps==
{{anchor|List of mobile apps banned in India}}

This is a list of notable applications that have been banned in India pursuant to section 69-A of the ''Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules'', 2009.<ref>{{cite news | date=29 June 2020| title=Government Bans 59 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.| work=Press Information Bureau, Government of India| url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1635206| access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+List of 59 mobile apps banned in India 
|-
! Name !! Date of ban !! Notes
|-
|- || 28 July 2020 || 
|-
| [[Software:TikTok|TikTok]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
| [[Software:SHAREit|SHAREit]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
| Kwai  || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Software:UC Browser|UC Browser]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Baidu Maps || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Shein || 28 July 2020 || 
|-
|[[Software:Clash of Kings|Clash of Kings]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|DU battery saver || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Helo || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Company:Likee|Likee]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|YouCam Perfect || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Mi Community || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Company:Cheetah Mobile|CM Brower]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Virus Cleaner || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|APUS Browse || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|ROMWE || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Club Factory || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Newsdog || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Beauty Plus || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Software:WeChat|WeChat]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|UC News || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ Mail || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Weibo || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Xender || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ Music || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ Newsfeed || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Company:Bigo Live|Bigo Live]] || 30 June 2020 || 
|-
|SelfieCity|| 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Mail Master || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Parallel Space || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Mi Video Call - Xiaomi || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|WeSync || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|ES File Explorer || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Viva Video - QU Video Inc || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Company:Meitu|Meitu]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Vigo Video || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|New Video Status || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|DU Recorder || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Vault- Hide || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Cache Cleaner DU App studio || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|DU Cleaner || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|DU Browser || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Hago Play With New Friends || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Software:CamScanner|CamScanner]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Company:Cheetah Mobile|Clean Master]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Wonder Camera || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Photo Wonder || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ Player || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|We Meet || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Sweet Selfie || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Baidu Translate || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|Vmate || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ International || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ Security Center || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|QQ Launcher || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|U Video || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|V fly Status Video || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|[[Software:Mobile Legends: Bang Bang|Mobile Legends]] || 29 June 2020 || 
|-
|DU Privacy || 29 June 2020 ||
|}
On  2 September 2020 Indian government release another list of 118 apps.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2020 |title=Government Bans 118 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order. |work=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1650669 |access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Yasir |first1=Sameer |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |date=2020-09-02 |title=India Bans 118 Chinese Apps as Indian Soldier Is Killed on Disputed Border |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/world/asia/india-bans-china-apps.html |access-date=2022-04-27 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+List of 118 mobile apps banned in India 
|-
! Name !! Date of ban !! Notes
|-
|[[Software:PUBG Mobile|PUBG Mobile]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Company:APUS Group|APUS Launcher]] Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, Smart || 2 September 2020||
|-
|APUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, Hide Apps || 2 September 2020||
|-
|APUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, Cleaner || 2 September 2020||
|-
|APUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-Virus || 2 September 2020||
|-
|APUS Flashlight-Free & Bright || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Cut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background Editor || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Company:Baidu|Baidu]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Baidu Express Edition || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Finance:Faceu|FaceU]] - Inspire your Beauty || 2 September 2020||
|-
|ShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing deals || 2 September 2020||
|-
|CamCard - Business Card Reader || 2 September 2020||
|-
|CamCard Business || 2 September 2020||
|-
|CamCard for Salesforce || 2 September 2020||
|-
|CamOCR || 2 September 2020||
|-
|InNote || 2 September 2020||
|-
|VooV Meeting - Tencent Video Conferencing || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Super Clean - Master of Cleaner, Phone Booster || 2 September 2020||
|-
|WeChat reading || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Government WeChat || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Small Q brush || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Tencent Weiyun || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Pitu || 2 September 2020||
|-
|WeChat Work || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Software:Cyber Hunter|Cyber Hunter]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Cyber Hunter Lite || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Knives Out-No rules, just fight! || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Super Mecha Champions || 2 September 2020||
|-
|LifeAfter || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Dawn of Isles || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Ludo World-Ludo Superstar || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Chess Rush || 2 September 2020||
|-
|PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik || 2 September 2020||
|-
|PUBG MOBILE LITE || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Art of Conquest: Dark Horizon || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Dank Tanks || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Warpath || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Game of Sultans || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Gallery Vault - Hide Pictures And Videos || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Smart AppLock (App Protect) || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer Team || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Hide App-Hide Application Icon || 2 September 2020||
|-
|AppLock || 2 September 2020||
|-
|AppLock Lite || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Dual Space - Multiple Accounts & App Cloner || 2 September 2020||
|-
|ZAKZAK Pro - Live chat & video chat online || 2 September 2020||
|-
|ZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat app || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Music - Mp3 Player || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Music Player - Audio Player & 10 Bands Equalizer || 2 September 2020||
|-
|HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Cleaner - Phone Booster || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Web Browser & Fast Explorer || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Video Player All Format for Android || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Photo Gallery HD & Editor || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Photo Gallery & Album || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Music Player - Bass Booster - Free Download || 2 September 2020||
|-
|HD Camera - Beauty Cam with Filters & Panorama || 2 September 2020||
|-
|HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Music Player - MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equalizer || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Gallery HD || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Web Browser - Fast, Privacy & Light Web Explorer || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Web Browser - Secure Explorer || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Music player - Audio Player || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Video Player - All Format HD Video Player || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Lamour Love All Over The World || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Amour- video chat & call all over the world || 2 September 2020||
|-
|MV Master - Make Your Status Video & Community || 2 September 2020||
|-
|MV Master - Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor || 2 September 2020||
|-
|APUS Message Center-Intelligent management || 2 September 2020||
|-
|LivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangers || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Carrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Bike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Rangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG Game || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Z Camera - Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage || 2 September 2020||
|-
|GO SMS Pro - Messenger, Free Themes, Emoji || 2 September 2020||
|-
|U-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now Translate || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Ulike - Define your selfie in trendy style || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Tantan - Date For Real || 2 September 2020||
|-
|MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karen || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Kitty Live - Live Streaming & Video Live Chat || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Company:Alipay|Alipay]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|AlipayHK || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Mobile [[Finance:Taobao|Taobao]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Company:Youku|Youku]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Road of Kings- Endless Glory || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Sina News || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Netease News || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Penguin FM || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Murderous Pursuits || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Tencent Watchlist (Tencent Technology) || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Company:Huya Live|HUYA LIVE]] – Game Live Stream || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Little Q Album || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Fighting Landlords - Free and happy Fighting Landlords || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Hi Meitu || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Mobile Legends: Pocket || 2 September 2020||
|-
|VPN for TikTok || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Penguin E-sports Live assistant || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Buy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low prices || 2 September 2020||
|-
|iPick || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Beauty Camera Plus - Sweet Camera & Face Selfie || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Parallel Space Lite - Dual App || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Software:Marvel Super War|Marvel Super War]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|AFK Arena || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Creative Destruction || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Crusaders of Light || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Software:Mafia City|Mafia City]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Onmyoji || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Ride Out Heroes || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Yimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgraded || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Legend: Rising Empire || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Software:Arena of Valor|Arena of Valor]] || 2 September 2020||
|-
|Soul Hunters || 2 September 2020||
|-
|[[Software:Rules of Survival|Rules of Survival]] || 2 September 2020||
|}
14 communication apps banned in May 2023 as they were allegedly being used by the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir:<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 May 2023 |title=Govt blocks 14 mobile apps on terror suspicion |work=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mobile-apps-blocked-jammu-kashmir-terrorists-8585046/ |access-date=19 December 2023}}</ref>

* Wickrme
* Mediafire
* [[Software:Briar|Briar]]
* BChat
* Nandbox
* Conion
* [[Software:Imo.im|IMO]]
* [[Software:Element|Element]]
* Second line
* Zangi
* [[Software:Threema|Threema]]
* Crypviser
* Enigma
* [[Company:Safe Swiss Cloud|Safeswiss]]

==Locations==
===Jammu and Kashmir===
Before revocation of autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir, the Internet services were shut down as part of curfew and complete communications blackout including cable TV, landlines and cellphones on 4 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Devdutta |last2=Gupta |first2=Apar |date=2020-08-18 |title=Jammu & Kashmir Internet Restrictions Cases: A Missed Opportunity to Redefine Fundamental Rights in the Digital Age |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=4146203 |language=en |location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=4146203 }}</ref> The Internet was restored on 25 January 2020, when the government allowed people of Kashmir to access the [[Internet|internet]] on [[2G|2G]] with whitelisted websites. It was over a year later in February 2021 when access to high speed internet was restored across Jammu and Kashmir.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 February 2021|title=17 months on, 4G internet services restored in Jammu and Kashmir|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/17-months-on-4g-internet-services-restored-in-jammu-and-kashmir-101612564917419.html|access-date=14 April 2021|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> This blockade and other frequent internet shutdowns in the region have been termed by a local human rights group as amounting to digital apartheid.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kashmir group calls India's internet ban 'digital apartheid'|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/25/kashmir-group-calls-indias-internet-ban-digital-apartheid|access-date=14 April 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref> Many students got affected because they could not study properly on online classes during lockdown because the internet speed was too slow. [[Engineering:Broadband|Broadband]] services were set to be restored the same day, but because of technical error [[Company:Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited|BSNL]] could not restore it till 5 March 2020. Broadband was restored with full access whereas mobile internet at 2G. The State government shut down the Internet on 17–18 March 2014 in Jammu and Kashmir to stop separatists from addressing a United Nations Human Rights Council sideline event via video link in Geneva.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kmsnews.org/news/2014/03/18/india-shuts-down-internet-to-prevent-mirwaizs-address.html|title=India shuts down internet to prevent Mirwaiz's address|work=Kashmir Media Service|access-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216064158/http://www.kmsnews.org/news/2014/03/18/india-shuts-down-internet-to-prevent-mirwaizs-address.html|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Internet access was shut down again for mobile and landline broadband in July 2016 against the backdrop of protests.

The state government of Jammu and Kashmir on 26 April 2017<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=26 April 2017|title=Government orders social media ban in Kashmir|url=http://www.kashmirlife.net/government-orders-social-media-ban-kashmir-138874/|access-date=10 February 2021|website=Kashmir Life}}</ref> ordered the various Internet service providers (ISPs) operating in the valley to block access to 22 social networking websites for one month saying among other things, "endangering public life and property and causing unrest/ disharmony in the state". Pertinently, the order was passed by exercising the powers conferred under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 which technically became obsolete {{Circa|2008}}{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} when the Government of India decided to stop all telegraph services in the country. As a result of this censorship, people living in the valley have resorted to circumvention tactics in the form of using web proxies, VPNs among other things. The popularity of these tactics have compelled the government to block access to Android [[Software:Google Play|Play Store]] among other services for some time in a bid to prevent citizens from getting access to these services.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

The banned services include widely used services like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp but also the list includes websites like QQ, Baidu, Qzone, which are not used outside of mainland China. Xanga, a website featured in the list, shut down in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/xanga-is-shutting-down-510717167|title=Xanga Is Shutting Down|last=Biddle|first=Sam|work=Gawker|access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref> These websites mostly being in Mandarin has people concerned that the censorship has been an attempt to suppress dissent only by all means necessary, as opposed to their claim of "maintaining peace and harmony".

=== Rajasthan ===
Internet was suspended in 4 districts of Rajasthan in October 2021, following violent protests.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Internet suspended, section 144 imposed in four Rajasthan districts after violent protests|work=Hindusthan times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/internet-suspended-section-144-imposed-in-four-rajasthan-districts-after-violent-protest/story-8gInP2Gx4W95e4nHCfq5YM.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116085137/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/internet-suspended-section-144-imposed-in-four-rajasthan-districts-after-violent-protest/story-8gInP2Gx4W95e4nHCfq5YM.html|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

Internet was suspended across Rajasthan in view of the Rajasthan Administrative services exam, in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mobile internet suspended for RAS prelims exam across Rajasthan|work=Times of india|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/mobile-net-suspended-for-ras-prelims-exam-across-raj-today/articleshow/87290703.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116085557/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/mobile-net-suspended-for-ras-prelims-exam-across-raj-today/articleshow/87290703.cms|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

Internet servies across Rajasthan were suspended to prevent cheating in the teachers recruitment exam, in September 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rajasthan shuts Internet as 16 lakh appear for REET 2021|work=Indian express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/jobs/rajasthan-shuts-down-internet-as-16-lakh-sit-for-teacher-exam-7536304/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116085724/https://indianexpress.com/article/jobs/rajasthan-shuts-down-internet-as-16-lakh-sit-for-teacher-exam-7536304/|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

Internet services were blocked in the state for days amid religious tensions in the aftermath of the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, this was done to stop the spread of the beheading video.<ref name="CNN-29June22">{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/29/india/india-udaipur-hindu-muslim-killing-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Brutal killing caught on camera stokes India religious tensions |date=29 June 2022 |first1=Swati |last1=Gupta |first2=Rhea |last2=Mogul |first3=Esha |last3=Mitra |first4=Alex |last4=Stambaugh |work=CNN}}</ref>

===Gujarat===
The State Government of Gujarat shut down the Internet in Vadodara, Gujarat from 27 September 2014 for 3 days due to communal clashes between two communities, even though only the central government has the power to shut down the Internet under the Information Technology Act, 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-16/news/28698054_1_internet-users-sovereignty-and-integrity-switch|title=Government can switch off your internet if necessary – The Economic Times|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref> and that, in addition, under a declared state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India when freedom of speech and expression is suspended. No formal announcement was made regarding this by the city police or the Internet service providers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/communal-unrest-in-vadodara-internet-banned/article1-1269051.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927124638/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/communal-unrest-in-vadodara-internet-banned/article1-1269051.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2014|title=Vadodara tense, mobile data services suspended|date=27 September 2014|work=hindustantimes.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/gujarat/mobile-internet-facility-suspended-in-violence-hit-vadodara_1476963.html|title=Mobile internet facility suspended in violence-hit Vadodara|date=28 September 2014|work=india.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Internet-services-blocked-in-Vadodara-after-riots/articleshow/43674499.cms|title=Internet services blocked in Vadodara after riots – Times of India|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>

When the Patidar reservation agitation turned violent on 25 August 2015, the internet services on mobile phones and broadband were restricted as certain social media platforms like [[Software:WhatsApp|WhatsApp]] and [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] were blocked for six days from 26 August 2015 to 31 August 2015 across the state.<ref name="Businessv2015">{{cite web | title=Internet services restored in Ahmedabad at midnight | publisher=The Indian Express | date=31 August 2015 | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat/internet-services-to-be-restored-in-ahmedabad-at-midnight/ | access-date=31 August 2015}}</ref>

===Nagaland===
The State Government of Nagaland shut down the Internet for the entire state, from 7 March 2015 for 48 hours due to the mob lynching of a man.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nagaland-lynching-18-arrested-protests-continue-against-killing-of-rape-accused-744999?pfrom=home-lateststories|title=Nagaland Lynching: Internet and SMS Suspended As Protests Escalate, 18 Arrested|work=ndtv.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dimapur-lynching-case-internet-sms-services-blocked-in-nagaland/articleshow/46492712.cms|title=Dimapur lynching case: Internet, SMS services blocked in Nagaland|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=18 January 2017|date=8 March 2015}}</ref>

Both SMS and internet/data services were suspended in Nagaland from 30 January 2017, which were restored on 20 February 2017 after being blocked for 20 days. The block was initiated to prevent the spread of violence in the state. This situation came up when two Naga tribal bodies had served a three-day ultimatum to Zeliang to step down following the government's decision to hold local body elections with 33% reservation for women in 12 towns across the state and the death of two persons in clashes between the police and protestors at Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, on the night of 31 January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thenortheasttoday.com/nagalandinternet-services-restored-back-to-normalcy-after-20-days/|title=Nagaland:Internet services restored back to normalcy after 20 days!|date=23 February 2017|newspaper=The North East Today|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/blocking-information/|title=Blocking information|website=www.easternmirrornagaland.com|date=8 February 2017|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/nagaland-legislators-appeals-tribal-bodies-to-lift-shutdown/546430/|title=Nagaland legislators appeals tribal bodies to lift shutdown|date=11 February 2017|newspaper=The Financial Express|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref>

===Manipur===
The State Government of Manipur shut down the Internet of some service providers, who provide Internet through mobile technology 2G/3G/4G in Manipur from 1 September 2015 evening, to 8 September 2015 afternoon due to agitation over the passing of three bills. Police and protesters clashed in different areas of Churachandpur district as mobs went on a rampage attacking residences of Ministers, MLAs and MPs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/55957/govt-blocks-fb-whatsapp|title=The Sangai Express – Largest Circulated NewsPaper in Manipur|work=thesangaiexpress.com|access-date=18 January 2017}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/55915/all-three-bills-passed-without-any-debate-violent-reactions-erupt-in-ccpur-sadar-hills-crpc-144-invoked-residences-of-mlas-attacked-three-killed-in-ccpur-bandh-in-hill-areas-total|title=The Sangai Express – Largest Circulated NewsPaper in Manipur|work=thesangaiexpress.com|access-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225055139/http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/55915/all-three-bills-passed-without-any-debate-violent-reactions-erupt-in-ccpur-sadar-hills-crpc-144-invoked-residences-of-mlas-attacked-three-killed-in-ccpur-bandh-in-hill-areas-total|archive-date=25 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The government ordered the respective Deputy Commissioner (DC) to shut down mobile data service in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 17 December 2016 till further order.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ifp.co.in/page/items/36324/mobile-internet-blocked |title=Mobile Internet blocked |access-date=18 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220140043/http://ifp.co.in/page/items/36324/mobile-internet-blocked |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> On 18 December 2016, Home department of Government of Manipur was ordered to shutdown all mobile data services and SMS in Manipur from 10:00 on 18 December 2016, to 10:00 on 30 December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-manipur-police-personnel-killed-8-others-injured-in-ambush-1638067 |title=4 Manipur Police Personnel Killed, 4 Others Injured In Ambush |publisher=Ndtv.com |date=15 December 2016 |access-date=25 November 2017}}</ref>

The government ordered all forms of telecom services, except voice calls, to be suspended for five days in Manipur with effect from Thursday night (19 July 2018) to prevent anti-national and anti-social messages on social media. Raghumani Singh, Special Secretary (Home){{snd}}Manipur, in an order issued in the name of the Governor said the prohibition is imposed under Rule II of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://insidene.com/manipur-internet-and-sms-services-banned-for-five-days/|title=Manipur: Internet and SMS services banned for five days - InsideNE|date=20 July 2018|work=InsideNE|access-date=22 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/manipur-suspends-cell-internet-service-246400|title=Manipur suspends cell Internet service|work=The Telegraph|access-date=22 July 2018}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

For second time in 2018 the government ordered to shut down mobile data services in Manipur for five days, with effect from 21 September 2018, the prohibition was imposed under Rule II of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017. An order issued by Special Secretary (Home) Raghumani said the step was taken to prevent spread of rumors, "which might have serious repercussion for the law and order situation in the entire state of Manipur."<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=21 July 2018|title=Manipur suspends cell Internet service|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/manipur-suspends-cell-internet-service/cid/1455498|access-date=10 February 2021|website=The Telegraph Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=21 July 2018|title=Mobile internet services suspended in Manipur for 5 days|url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile-internet-services-suspended-in-manipur-for-5-days/65078682|access-date=10 February 2021|website=ETTelecom.com}}</ref>

For the third time under the leadership of CM N. Biren Singh in 2019 the state government ordered to shut down mobile data services in Manipur for five days, amidst protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which took effect from 11 February 2019 at midnight. District Magistrate for Imphal West Naorem Praveen Singh also barred cable news channels from “transmission of agitation or protest” indefinitely “until further orders”, under Section 19 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 which prohibits transmission of agitation or protests which may lead to violence.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.medianama.com/2019/02/223-manipur-rajasthan-internet-shutdown/ | title=Internet shutdowns in Manipur and Rajasthan | date=13 February 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/citizenship-bill-protests-curfew-imposed-in-imphal-mobile-internet-shut-across-manipur-5579751/|title = Citizenship Bill protests: Curfew imposed in Imphal, DM tells local channels don't show protests|date = 13 February 2019}}</ref>

Internet and mobile data services were restored after an order in the name of the Governor issued by Raghumani Singh, Special Secretary (Home){{snd}}Manipur, at 14:00 on 13 February 2019. The CAB was not tabled on Rajya Sabha as the law and order situation improved and come back to normalcy.

On 16 March 2020, the Government of Manipur issued an ordered signed by H. Gyan Prakash, in the name of Governor of Manipur to suspend Internet services for 3 days in view to avoid the usage of social media networks which might lead to escalation of an incident between two communities at Chasad village of Kamjong district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/6950|title=Internet banned over Kamjong tension :: Manipur News {{!}} Manipur Daily {{!}} Poknapham - Manipuri News!|website=www.thepeopleschronicle.in|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=16 March 2020|title=Mobile internet shut, prohibitory orders imposed in Manipur|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mobile-internet-shut-prohibitory-orders-imposed-in-manipur-after-clashes/articleshow/74656616.cms|access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> Internet services were restored the next day reducing the period of suspension to one day.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

On 06 Aug 2022, the Government of Manipur issued an ordered signed by H. Gyan Prakash, in the name of Governor of Manipur to suspend Internet Mobile services for 5 days in view to avoid the usage of social media networks which might lead to escalation of tense situation and volatile law order situation in the State of Manipur. On 09 Aug 2022 the Government of Manipur  issued an ordered signed by H. Gyan Prakash in view of the positive development, the suspension was relaxed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-manipur-mobile-internet-suspended-for-5-days-amid-law-and-order-concerns-101659841142534.html | title=In Manipur, mobile internet suspended for 5 days amid law and order concerns | date=7 August 2022 }}</ref>

=== Andhra Pradesh ===
The State Government of Andhra Pradesh shut down the internet in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh on 25 May 2022 due to violent protests regarding the name change of Konaseema district where Amalapuram is located.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Telugu |first=ntv |date=2022-05-25 |title=Konaseema: అమలాపురంలో ఇంటర్నెట్ సేవలు బంద్‌.. |url=https://ntvtelugu.com/andhra-pradesh-news/all-network-internet-services-shut-down-in-amalapuram-171013.html |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=NTV |language=te-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=Andhra minister's house set ablaze amid protest against district's renaming {{!}} Top points |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/andhra-minister-s-house-set-ablaze-amid-protest-against-district-s-renaming-101653402724601.html |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*Censorship in India
*Information Technology Act, 2000
*Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India

==References==
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[[Category:Mobile applications]]

{{Sourceattribution|Internet censorship in India}}