VV Balakrishna By

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Information Technology Department is in touch with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ban porn sites in the State. “We are in touch with the joint secretary of DoT. We wrote a letter to the DoT. We have also requested internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile phone service providers to ban such sites and sought their cooperation,” an official in the IT Department said on Tuesday.

The official, however, admitted that it was not possible for the government to ban porn sites or even social media sites as done in Saudi Arabia or China. “Telangana cannot go ahead in isolation,” he pointed out.

The government, initially, thought of banning all porn sites which are paving the way for more crimes against women. However, the officials realised that blocking sites as done in Saudi Arabia and China was not possible in Telangana. The IT Department requested DoT to identify porn and other objectionable sites on its own and ban them in Telangana.

“We are not identifying the websites. For identifying and blocking sites, we require some tools and have to develop a software. Buying tools and developing a software is very expensive. We have left the matter to the DoT,” the official said. Sources said Information Technology Act provides an opportunity to block some sites. “We are requesting DoT to implement the provisions of the Act,” official sources said.

Officials, however, are doubtful whether the DoT will oblige their request. “We are yet to get a reply from the DoT. We hope the DoT, ISPs and mobile phone service providers will cooperate with us,” the official said.

The idea to ban the porn and other objectionable sites cropped up when a team of officials on women’s security found that offenders are using social media network for crime against women. The Chief Minister directed the officials to implement the provisions of IT Act strictly. Asked whether any other State blocked or completely banned porn sites, the Telangana IT officials replied in negative.