Last month, we reported about how Reddit is being banned across a few ISPs in India. At the time, it seemed to be a connectivity issue, but now it looks like a few ISPs have indeed banned the site.

And let me say again, why this could set a dangerous precedent in keeping a free, fair and open Internet for all.

So far, users of Vodafone, Jio, Hathway, as well as a number of local ISPs around the country are reporting that Reddit is inaccessible. The r/India subreddit on the site is already full of confused and angry users demanding how this is allowed.

Is anyone else facing issues with reddit in india ? I can't access it with my wifi or mobile data. @reddit — Panik (@panikdkernel) April 28, 2019

Of course, it's simple enough to bypass a site ban using proxies or VPNs. The problem is that, not only is this ban unconstitutional and all-encompassing, there was also no intimation from the government as to the reason behind it.

On Reddit, users are debating what the reasons could be, and there's one leading theory: porn.

First @HathwayBrdband and now @VodafoneIN. Why and how do corporations keep blocking mainstream social media websites at their whim?

I was under the assumption #India has #NetNeutrality regulations. @DoT_India @internetfreedom @TRAI — Rea DiMarco (@ReaDiMarco) April 29, 2019

Have some shame! Don't half-assedly pretend you want to help me when you have no intentions of doing so. @TRAI @DoT_India This is a complete breach of net neutrality principles. @internetfreedom @reddit — Ampersand ❤️ 🌏 (@Ampersand1610) April 29, 2019

Yeah, the idea is that it's far too tough for the government to block only the NSFW subreddits, so they've instead opted for a site-wide ban. Mind you, that's again with absolutely no announcement, clarification, or justification given to the public. It's a violation of Internet freedom at its finest.

And again, the ban also completely misses its own point. Reddit, like the Internet as a whole, has a variety of content. Reddit, like all of the Internet, also has pornography. And Reddit, like the rest of the Internet, is also accessible via VPNs. So what exactly does a site ban accomplish? Nothing.

However, it's interesting to remember that this also blocks subreddits like r/India. You know, where users are currently discussing the elections, and all participant electoral candidates and parties.

Where users are campaigning against individuals they feel are not right fits for government. Where there's usually a strong anti-establishment current running through. Just food for thought.