In response to two different RTI applications, the government mentioned two different numbers with respect the number of blocked URLs/websites. In both cases, the government refused to disclose the list of URLs.

In response to an application under RTI, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY), Government of India said that a total of 11422 URLs/websites have been blocked since 2010. In response to another RTI application from SFLC, the government said 23030 websites are blocked in India. But the government refused to disclose the list of URLs in both cases citing a provision in Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for blocking for Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009. But is it fair on the government to not disclose the list of blocked URLs?

Why & how is a website blocked?

The Government of India in 2009 notified the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for blocking for Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009. These rules were made specifically to exercise powers under Sec 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 which was subsequently amended. Sec 69A was added to the IT Act 2000 to introduce blocking of access to certain websites. The rules notified in the year 2009 detail out the process for blocking any URL/website. The request for blocking will not be accepted from any individual except the designated nodal officer of a department or the Chief Secretary of a state government. The rules also specify process to be followed in cases of emergency and in cases where a competent court has issued an order. So how many URLs are blocked so far?

In response to an application under RTI by Factly, MEITY said that a total of 11422 URLs were blocked since 2010 (till Sep 2017). The most number of URLs were blocked in the year 2015 when 4839 websites were blocked. It was in 2015 when the government initially banned more than 800 porn websites, but later revoked the ban. In 2016, the number URLs blocked dropped to almost 25% of previous year. The year 2017 also seems to be following a similar trend as of 2016. The further break up of these numbers in terms of why the website was blocked (because of a court order etc.) is not available. Conflicting numbers provided by the Government

In response to another RTI application by Ms. Priyanka of the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), MEITY said that the number of websites blocked in India in 23030. Whether it is the number of websites blocked till date (including those prior to 2010) is not known. Even that is the case, it is not believable that more than 12000 websites were blocked before the 2009 rules. Government says it cannot disclose the list of URLs

In response to both the RTI applications, MEITY stated that as per Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for blocking for Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009, strict confidentiality shall be maintained regarding all the requests and complaints received and actions taken thereof. And because of the confidentiality, it cannot disclose the list of URLs. However, MEITY says if one would like to know about a specific URL whether it is blocked or not, they will provide such information.

Non-Disclosure of the list violates the provisions of the RTI act

It has to be noted that neither the details of requests nor action taken were requested in the RTI applications. Only the list of URLs that were finally blocked was sought. How will disclosure of the list affect confidentiality of complaints received and action taken is something only MEITY can answer.

Moreover, Section 22 of the RTI act makes it clear that the provisions of the RTI act will prevail in case there is any inconsistency in any other law with respect to information disclosure. If anything, the government should examine the request in accordance to Section 8 of the RTI act that lays down exemptions to disclosure of information and decide if disclosure of the list of URLs attracts any of the exemption provisions. MEITY hasn’t done this.

Another issue to be noted is that most court orders these days are public documents. Mot such orders that direct blocking a particular URL are already in the public domain. For instance, in one the Supreme Court orders, an earlier direction of the government is mentioned along with the list of blocked URLs.

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