Communications Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday took strong exception to the uploading of disparaging and defamatory content, particularly those related to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on some social networking sites, and asked these websites to remove all such content or face action.
Mr. Sibal, who met senior functionaries of these websites, including those from Facebook, Google, YouTube and Yahoo, asked them to evolve a mechanism to filter such “inflammatory” and “defamatory” content that could create social tension. Besides referring to uploading of pictures and videos having morphed images of popular leaders, he mentioned the use of material that could hurt people's religious sentiments.
“These websites have been told to be more vigilant towards such content and ensure that such objectionable matter is not used on the Internet. They have been asked to inform the government of such controversial matter so that immediate remedial measures could be taken. We have asked them to actively screen and filter all such material before they are uploaded,” a senior official of the Department of Telecommunications said.
It is learnt that the Centre, Mr. Sibal in particular, took a strong view on the use of morphed images of Ms. Gandhi and Dr. Singh on Facebook. Mr. Sibal even warned of “stern action” against these firms if they failed to act. He also pointed to the safety concerns expressed by Indian intelligence agencies which want to monitor these websites for security reasons.
The functionaries of social networking websites have expressed their helplessness on pre-screening of content due to the large amount of content being uploaded, besides the server being located in foreign locations, particularly the U.S. They are also averse to the government's attempt to monitor and control the Internet.
India today has over 10-crore Internet users, third largest in the world after China and the U.S., which is likely to more than double by 2015. India also has over 2.8-crore Facebook users and is the fifth largest Facebook user base in the world and is expected to become second largest by the end of 2012.
The websites, however, offered their support in prosecuting such elements found misusing the Internet. “We have told the government that we will cooperate with the government in penalising those found guilty of uploading objectionable content … we have urged them to prosecute such elements under relevant Acts by filing cases against them,” said a senior official of a social networking website.
When contacted, Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) president Rajesh Chharia said controlling the Internet was not a good idea … but ISPs should cooperate with the government when it came to matter of national security and law and order problems.
“ISPs should follow the law of the land and help create a safe and secure Internet. To begin with, they should end all Internet telephony services being offered by them illegally, which is also causing revenue loss to the exchequer,” he said, referring to services like Google Talk and Skype.
Mr. Sibal, Its a slippery slope if we start filtering internet. You
can't precisely define what is defamatory and what isn't, where will you
draw the line? Very soon some other celebrity will complain. Just get
used to 21st century and Internet. A marginal section of the society is
always going to indulge in such things. You can't take such radical
measures to prevent that.
Would someone please give this guy a copy of the constitution or perhaps just the preamble and a dictionary? It's right on the first page! LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
Mr. Kapil sibal sir is absolutely right. freedom of speech and expression is no doubt, fundamental right of citizen. But at the same time, a right cannot be misused. If people have the right to express, they can, but not in an indecent way. Holding a position of PM or minister is not a toy play, of course India is a democratic country, so is the reason we have vote power. utilize it properly.
Interesting speech by Mr.Kapil Sibal. Is he in a Democratic Country where the Right to Speech is well known to all? Or is he saying the Politicians (ALL - since the opposition party did not raise any issue against his comments), does not care about People's RIGHTS? Are we living in the REPUBLIC OF INDIA which I still don't believe got its FREEDOM from BRITISH IDEALISM. Are we even having the RIGHT to do anything in this country? If this continues, this VAST & RESOURCEFUL NATION will see no more good people living. May be this is what is being warned by the "HOLY GITHA" as "KALIYUG". Our ancestors knew that this is our future. So what do we do now??
In my opinion, people who post controversial material always do with false identity and false names as they are afraid of they are doing. That is not about freedom of expression, if someone really thinks he is right in what he is saying then he should be daring enough to identify himself and not writing posts sitting in a dark room. I think in similar way as mobile sim card are given only after verifying identity proof, all the email and social network sites should ask for a valid identity proof before signing in. it is possible, people and scan and show their identity. Even if someone wants to post a comment on any news site they should have valid id. If Unique Id becomes success in our country then every email account should have the number in it. One can have more than one e mail id but with it should always be with a identity proof Recently every email account asks for mobile number which is good and they should take it seriously, and cancel all accounts without any id proof. If that happens the number of controversial material come down by itself. Freedom of expression is when you express it standing with good eye contact and not hiding in some corner in front of PC.
Mr. Kapil Sibal is very intelligent person, I hope he won't force social media to regulate content and try to understand that technically it's not feasible to regulate the content which machines can't understand.
My government cant control poverty inflation,lack of Education,farmers' suicides but wants to control my freedom of expression.
Lest the people forget the notorious emergency of the 1970s, one of the main defenders of the Congress-led present government, Mr.Sibal, has virtually told the social websites that those inglorious days could be here again if they do not eschew contents objectionable in the eyes of the government. Good going, Mr.Sibal. But remember, Sir, that the emergency did not last long, even with indira Gandhi at the helm.
i remember long back Nehru while addressing the press council of india in its inuagural function that press, the most powerful public opinion maker must mark the difference between freedom and licence. They should not take one for the other. he made this statement when electronic media had not made inroads in to the media ddomain which was dominated by print media. Fortunately Justice Katju has also expressed his anxiety over the crass degeneration set into the media world. it's important perticularly in the networking age with morphed pics & perverted news being circulated. let sense prevail
Elections are coming. UPA 2 has so far shown that it is completely incapable of leading the country. So what does it do? 1.MMS advocates a "relook at the RTI". That act which has been applauded the world over, is to be diluted
Next Mr Sibal comes up with this idea of "blocking" 'objectionable" content on the net. Next the UPA will plant spies among the people and say "objectionable words uttered will lead to punitive action" Mr Sibal has given a foolish statement. Such cases demand a case-by-case treatment, not a general filtering mechanism. He should remember it was exactly this sort of attempt at all-round control that brought Gaddafi down from the king of kings to a lone man shot to death.
If anyone go against the science and tech, the sufferer is only Indians and not Indian politicians
Kapilji, you all good people ( including Khurshidji)are becoming famous for wrong reasons. Please concentrate on matters concerning your Dept. It needs revamping/streamlining. Good governance will earn respect for you like great Mr. Antony our defence minister. We like him.
Why blame Sibal......use your common sense...Would you prefer a official Indian army page or a fake one? Suppose tomorrow some Pakistani makes a Indian army page and does all ridiculous thing....Would you like it? These type of nationalist pages should be only hosted by official permission not just by anyone. Example take the page of BSF associated with "indian army fans"....(see the like section).........the fool who created this BSF page does not even know how to write BSF - he has written bsf in sentence case. If you are from any other country what will you think - that border security force doesnot even know how to write their name.Its time that these type of fake pages are closed.
How to take people's attention off of 2G and big issues? Create FDI in retail controversy, censor social network. Everyone gets busy fighting these issues. All airtime and space on new channels and news papers will be used up by attention diversionary tactics. Well done Sibal! You achieved what Congress wants.
Here is a minister who is lawyer by vocation heading the key portfolios of IT & Communications without any qualification. By virtue of his sycophancy only, he has got a position that he does not deserve. He miserably failed to protect his government and hush up the huge financial loss in the 2G spectrum scam. His latest missile against social media is yet another 'progressive' step to make amends & establish his loyalty to the Gandhi family. It is understandable for he has to compete with others like Digvijay, PC, to name a few, to prove his worth to the Gandhis if not to the country. But, unfortunately, all his attempts to silence critics of the Gandhis & government led by MMS have only brought to light the crook in Mr Sibal.
Private TV channels are owned by all kinds of vested interests, politicians and industrialists. Government channels 's only agenda is to perpetuate the fake Gandhi dynasty. The true public opinion can only emerge from the truly independent and truly free social media. Enough is enough. The present and former MPs, MLAs, ministers, fake Gandhis have already illegally amassed several millions of crores of rupees over the last 50+ years without confiscating even a single illegally amassed rupee. How many more years how many more millions of crores of rupees these rascals wish to loot the people of India by gagging the social media?
There is no such thing as a right to post morphed pictures, when you morph pictures your trying to capture an unreal moment that never existed, and that is not permitted by constitution,law or moral demeanour.Our discontent with the ruling party notwithstanding, we have no right to morph pictures, and morphing pictures is not the same as drawing cartoons or expressing opinions- it has more to do with placing two pictures in different circumstances together to give an unreal picture and that is not permissible. I hope the public realises their mistake before they criticise someone for being bossy
Next move by Mr Sibal- NO CARTOONS IN NEWS PAPERS ON LEADERS. Steps like these are childish in Democracy.
Sibal has created a storm.Is it a lack of thought or a diversionary tactics?The way the UPA Govt of Manmohan and Sonia is battling scam after scam , it is now trying to wriggle itself out by creating first-/>rate controversies that will push back Corruption from Media and People's sights.Any person who wants divert attention and concentration of the other will indulge in sledging (in Cricket parlance) .What Sibal is doing is just that. Divert Nation's attention.Because , he knows , people have fading memories and Elections 2014 is still more than 2 years away.
Kapil please learn to run a government. Your government has ruined the country. Please do not fool yourselves the economic growth is inspite of the political class. A political class which cannot even get the parliment to work has no business to divert attention. Please ensure fiscal correction and get government to work instead of wasting time on stupid controversies.
A yet another storm brewing in a teacup. Website and social media destress people through the non violence mode and if our learned minister cannot tolerate, he better exit from the portfolio that he has beengiven. Education influences people, triggers thoughts and gives room to expression.The web is a non dominated power seat for all which is free of partialities. Mr Minister, stop making yourself a laughing stock and welcome all inputs. You are destined to receive more brickbats than bouquets.
Welcome to Orwell's 1984 where the Thought police try to stop Thought crime!
India is supposed to be a democracy. Yet, nothing can be said about Sonia Gandhi. The Congress Govt. does not allow the media in India to say anything critical about her. Even letters from readers that are mildly critical of her or her policies are not published. Now, the Govt wants to control the Internet. But Google, Facebook etc are based in the US and it is unlikely that they will comply with the Govt.'s orders.
I recently went through an article , it was about exploitation of IB
for political purposes ; i guess mr. sibbal has got something really
hush hush from the sources of IB that social media is endangering
congress!! and he now he is blasting off like a autocrat.
a while back congress were questioning for RTI provisions also ; they
just want to be like this non-sense and think people should praise
them; this act of pushing the people of a democratic country is
really reprehensible.
Mr. Sibal is trying to redefine fundamentals of democracy the way his
high command wants. Can someone ask Mr. Sibal to have a look at the
concept of democracy once again and understand what it means? Criticism
will always be there, try to take it in positive way and improvise. Do
not try to curb it else there will be a inviting wrath from general
public. Think on this twice which and please do not behave like Mr.
Diggi...we all think of you as a responsible lawyer...
Sibal almost vanished after his role in defending Congress 2G scandal, Ramdev and Anna's event. Now, he suddenly springs out airing a controversial idea, when congress is on back-step on FDI because of which the parliament is suffering log-jam. Just the mere timing of bringing the well-known controversial issues one after the other makes me wonder the ruling party and the Govt is up to something else.
It seems Mr. Sibbal has no other work left other than keeping an eye on the content of the people. It is an attempt to suppress the peoples opinion ahead of Anna Hazares fast against Corruption which will start from 27 Dec 2011 and the govt. Lokpal bill will be presented on 9th Dec which will not be accepted by the Indian People. This govt. will go and have to go, if they did not pass people's (Anna's) JanLokpal Bill.
Lawyer?? Probably bought from a fake university. As to getting elected,
last election was conducted by Electronic Voting Machine which were
proved to be hackable. And Sibal and his gang imprisoned the scientist
who proved EVMs to be fallible. In fact the Home Minister initially was
declared a loser in the last election before being declared a winner!
And now he wants no truth to come out via Facebook or Twitter.
Sibal u cant stop people connecting each other for your personal benfits. Fear of loosing the elections is catching up in your mind.
If you wish to stop anything stop corruption and do your job with some sence of responsibility for which we have elected you.
Really I want to through some abusive words which is very personal relating go their religion and family members who ARE AGINST THOSE WHO OPPOSE GOVERMENT MOVE.... CAN I ? OFCOURSE IF YOU ALL DONT MIND ... then we will discuss about which is right to freedom of expression or that may b called as criminal activities ( character assasination )
Indians can only envy the United States and Britain where much more powerful and capable leaders are mocked everyday in the broadcast and electronic media. This is the price those in public office pay, and the freedom of speech and expression are considered sacrosanct in true democracies. Who says free speech is going to be pleasant for everyone? Mr. Sibal, your recourse is to use your right of free speech to rebut in the same media if you find something objectionable. Or, claim libel against specific offenders. This notion that "sensibilities" will be offended is utter nonsense. By this notion, no speech is safe, as there can potentially be someone offended by anything. Facebook, Google, etc, already has rules against hate speech. Whereas Mr. Sibal considers any criticism - whether through text or caricature or images - of the Gandhi family to be "blasphemous" (his words),equating the Gandhi family to God. The world is moving on, but Sibal wants to take India back to medieval times.
Tomorrow KS will warn Newspapers - All comments in public daily's like 'The Hindu'
should be publicly moderated (Dear moderator, I accept you do it to an extent) to
show only views pro govt. or politicians.
big boss evesdropping into every conversation....now ban on freedom of expression... am i in India or in Taliban
This move of Mr. Sibal will not gain anything good , instead will bring
out unrest in India.
I suspect that this move on the part of government is simply intended to have Hindus
shut-up and stay invisible. But such a strategy will not work. India is not America --
it is not a 'melting pot'. India is an ancient civilization and the incubator of the Vedas,
Vedanta, Yoga, etc. -- a spiritual and ethical system which is indigenous to South
Asia. Repeated foreign invasions over the centuries, domination by other cultures and
a prolonged, concerted and hostile effort to undermine and destroy what is now
called Hinduism has awakened the consciousness of indians, finally. This does not sit
well with the anti-Hindu crowd and of course they are now howling 'unfair!'.
NO SCREENING! Dont like to complete these five years!
Government has no authority to intervene on the right of people to criticize in whatever they want, even if it is utterly stupid. If you cannot take criticism leave the post you are assigned to. We are not going to sing songs of praise of anyone and everyone in order to please the 'morality' you want to impose upon us.
When Anna wants to Bring a strong Jan Lok Pal Bill these jokers used
to say Parliament is supreme made by the powers given by democracy.
Now he wants to please his Masters (not the people) by strangling
democacy.
actually we should say "Well said bro!" Mr.sibal the really big problem you find in our country right now is morphing and internet telephoning . and In-case ISPAI moves something like this in india, def it is of no use at all. Sibalji, you should stop thinking so much and use internet facilities to some extent.
The misgovernance of the ruling powers with all scandals and swindles galore,exposed by the likes of central monitoring and regulating agencies and through the initiatives of selective yet stunning judiciary is the daunting reality being faced by the people cutting across all barriers of society in this country.In such a scenario it is natural on the part of the people to use media technologies to express dissent or dissatisfaction against the policies of a government steeped in corruption and has the nerve to put the security of the nation to the back burner by awarding licenses in sensitive tech.to dubious firms.In fact the social networking sites has created social awareness not tension as they have given a platform for people of all class and creed to voice their opinions,assent or dissent in a free manner.For the past couple of years mounting criticism of the congress party esp.its elite is seen in all sections and aspects of society, why target the net based media alone.
he should deal more with the problems his co-leaders are causing the nation rather than facebook and others.
We are a democratic country where people have right to exercise their freedom of speech without any fear or government censorship. It is part of our constitution which sometime back was in debate once again to be the supreme governing law. If someone wants to show Manmohan Singh as a duck Digvijay Singh as a dog then so be it. First, it does not make them both. Second, it is what public feel so rather than hiding/restricting the message of the mass perhaps it would better to avoid the cause. That's just that, but the fact remains that government has lost its credibility and as a result is taking stupid measures to control the public angst and frustration against its own inability and mismanagement of public offices and duties. Censorship and control are not democratic tools, they are autocratic rules. This country has gained its independence from and empire and it certainly can again from its own feudal lords who wants to pilfer and ravage our own Mother India.
Freedom for expression is the soul of Democracy.A democratic state can't ban it.
For all the so-called sophistication Kapil Sabil pretends masquerading as a Science&Technology guy, IT guy, etc.. this is what his real worth is -- a regressive and a crass opportunist politician. No political party will retain power by stifling voice of the people.
Mind Without Fear
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up
into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action---
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Gitanjali, Rabindranath Tagore
Humpty Dumpty wants to control
Facebook, Twitter and Google
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
Trickle became a deluge of a waterfall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Respect is earned and never demanded, that's it.
Wait what ? "Skype" and "Google Talk" are illegal ? Even if you are insane enough to outlaw them, you can't by design forbid voice traffic on the Internet - Thats technically impossible. So stop making meaningless laws in the first place and focus your energy on building the nation.
UPA Government is a Dictatorial Government. 2G, CWG, Price Rise, two digit Inflation, FDI Policy, Curb on Freedom of Speech....worst is yet to come. Great job UPA! I hope people are watching and will remember everything in 16th Lok Sabha Elections. Hopefully Government's arrogance and dictatorship will be punished in forthcoming elections.
If it is true that Mr. Sibal woke up to the reality of disparaging pages on individuals/religion on the internet, when he found one on Sonia Gandhi, then he is definitely in the wrong. If such report is correct, then that would be sycophancy at its zenith. Secondly, no minister has the right to try to curtail freedom of expression. Though offensive comments on any individual are despicable, they can be fought legally, if the choice is made. And in this big country, one cannot expect each and everyone to have the same opinion about a person. You have to accept that public figures will be idolised by some, and vilified by some others. That's freedom of expression. You can disagree with it. But you can't deny it.
Why is Mr.Sibal keen on eliminating content only about Mrs.Gandhi and Mr.Singh? Posting a comment about them does not fall under national security. If the content is objectionable, relevant parties should seek remedy from appropriate law enforcement agency as is the case with common man. Rules and laws can't be different just because they belong to ruling party. Prosecute the culprits and punish them severely to serve as a deterrent. There is no point in trying to control the whole of internet just because you don;t like few comments or images.
On one side he is saying he is "Not interested in controlling free speech either directly or indirectly" on the other he is trying to do exactly the same. The moment you loose sense of humour and tolerance, there begins extremism. Ask Mrs. Gandhi and Mr.Singh to file police complaints like any other citizen if they feel any content related to them is offensive. Mr.Sibal, don't try to make India a Super Nanny state.
Mr. Sibal being a general factotum of the Gandhis has to oppose and he has no choice. The Congress are serial censorers and for this please recall the emergency Aand all other post emrgency clumsy tactics at muzzling opinion which angers them.
At first they give us a corrupt government and when people show opposition to them, they supress that opposition and now they want to detain us from expressing it too. This is against Democracy.
It is Mr Kapil Sibal who should be banned. He should introspect his deeds instead of demanding a complete shutdown of freedom of speech. Why there is no objectionable content against Anna Hazare or Kiran Bedi? It shows whom the majority are with. Sibalji try not to bury your head further deep in the sand.
Please get your act together first as a lawyer and then as a politician. I understand that insulting a person(s) through whatever media is an issue of the person who is being insulted vs the insulting person. Do you represent this person being insulted? Then I suggest that you take it up in the correct forum. Generalizing your statements and asking someone else to do your job is only evoke a rebellion and more insults. I would also like to ask you to chose which side you are on very very carefully. Politicos have been having a field day and their own way in this democratic country I call home. We do know what goes on everywhere. Look what happened and is happening in many other countries where fools ruled thinking that they can get away with anything. A revolution will come sooner if you chose to mess things up sooner. Do I sound ominous or threatening? People like me will have the last word when we say "I told you so!".
Why is Kapil Sibal getting so worked up? Perhaps he is worried that his bosses will be offended that such comments are coming from his portfolio? If one is sure of his/her abilities, they need not worry about such criticisms. Kapil Sibal should concentrate on productive work rather on these unimportant matters. If his leaders are not saying so, then that means they like what he is doing.
Congress party has looted the public wealth that is reason why people are angry. Why congress party did not stop A Raja and Kalmadhi. Why this party let them loot public money. If congress party is honest, why they took 40 years to pass Lokpal bill. Now, why they are taking so much time to pass a strong Lokpal bill. What is necessity to confront with Anna team. What are their mistakes. These are question people of this country are asking to Mr. Sibal. Even if a Congress minister Jitin Prasad did not hesitate to beat a common man. People like Jitin Prasad are in congress. Who is he to beat a common man. Who is Kapil Sibal to curb freedom of speech of the people.
Mr. Sibbal should realize that he cant suppress the agitation and voice of common man or "avaam" with any filter in the world. The more he suppresses them to express more he will face the repercussions of it. Is he trying to be a dictator by stopping free expression of opinions like in Korea or other dictator ruled nations where only what dictator like goes public on net. How being a comm minister he doesnt realize ppl can use proxy and manipulate content to pass any filter or does he wish that we the public should filter ppl like him and his masters out of nxt elections. You are just giving me more reasons Mr. Sibbal to not vote for any person associated with your party ever.
After censoring movies, Now government wants to censor Internet content too. Mr. Kapil Sibal, Will you just tell this Democratic(?) Nation whether people here have any Right to Express or not? If not, Just tell us that now you are going to censor & demolish the Indian Constitution too.
I cannot believe my eyes!!Sibal of all people!!He was the man who defended Manish Tewari when he came out with the garbage on Hazare-his party produced doctored CD's!!My Gosh!!
And I just now read the last paragraph; Illegally? Excuse me, where on earth is the law which makes Google Talk or Skype illegal? President of Internet Service Providers Association of India, WOW, now I'm sure ISPAI is no use.
Mr.Kapil Sibal we have so many problems and issues in our country greater than Social networking. you should not waste your 'precious time' on these kind of things.
This is step should be taken few years back, the minister doing a great job with courage.All the fellows trying for character assasination should deserve expemplary punishment.
Kapilji....advocate turned politician,living in the world of facebook etc than accept this fact also......do not mind whatever is written on facebook people do not take it as facevalue. We all know it may not be true than why you are worried about.If you are a public figure get ready for public outcry which in recent times have changed.Values are changing everywhere so do on internet sites.Anyway it is congress habit of burning vans of indain express when it was publicshing about Bofors and jethmalani.Indians get ready for Emergency,congress govt can do anything when it is about to vanish.oh ! I forgot to tell,this is a clear sign of congress vanishing.But anyway ..advice for GOOGLE and Yahoo to get alert, as now congress will now raid their office in garb of corporate tax or water connection etc....
Why Media hesitate to take an opinion poll in India about the posting of these funny pictures of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi in Facebook? I believe 100% Indians believe whatever funny pictures posted in respect of Manmohan and Sonia Gandhi in facebook is correct and justified.I Believe Media People are not bold. They have taken crores of money from the Government.
If Sibal thinks that it is hurting them, then they also should think of badly they have hurt so many people by indulging themselves in mega scams. They have looted the tax payers money and the wealth of this country by involving themselves in many scams. If they have used all those time in thinking about this country. We would not have to go through the misery of seeing this country being governed by these so called "culprits".
Are the ministers really clean...? On the first hand, they do not have any moral right to issue statements like this. Every second minister is accused of some anti-social activity. People who deserve respect will get it automatically.
This is insane. Mr. Sibal's views are just nauseating. I used to take pride in India as a democratic country, but if we don't even have the right to voice dissent against the government, where are we headed? I think Kapil Sibal should know that the government is a servant of the people, not vice versa. Why are Ms Sonia Gandhi or Mr. Manmohan Singh in any sense so special that we have to take care of not offending them or dissenting against them? The government is strongly mistaken if it feels that it can handle dissent merely by wishing it away.
In the garb of national interest and peace, Kapil Sibal is actually trying to please the bosses of Congress. (The only people who will create trouble on seeing such messages are the political class themselves.) Only the person that is unsure of himself/herself will react to such criticisms. Kapil Sibal should immediately stop looking at such unimportant matters and concentrate on his portfolio.
Atrocious attempt to muzzle free speech. Just because facts are unverified does not necessarily mean that they are untrue.
I don't understand. Are we not supposed to be a free democratic country? Isn't this a violation of right to speak of Indian constitution. What kind of democracy is this where people can't even criticize there government.
Kapi Sibal is a lawyer and what is the lesson he is teaching the general public? You can call your adversary to your office and threaten them!! It is a simple goonda raj!! if some thing is deregatory, and is in a bad taste, let them be tried as per the laws of the country instead of using some funny ways which he tried with the JanLokpal team as well. This is the same person who said that there is no loss to the government in the case of 2G. As a responsible minister he talks nonsense. If the loss was zero, why cant he represent to the Supreme Court that they are wasting their time and nation's money. It is a sad story. People can no more be fooled and they will teach these ministers a lesson in the next election.
Every other person is posting against the corrupt Govt. in social media. Now they will try to control the spread of their unpopularity !!!! Mr. Sibal stop doing what is good for Congress bigwigs, instead please work on doing something that will do good for the people of the country.
My last update on Face Book was right. It goes, 'India is a democratic nation in sense that she elects her dictator herself'
Are Ms Gandhi and Mr Singh dictators or leaders in a democracy..? If they are public figures, they would face allegations...If Mr sibal want to protect them from allegations, he should advise them to quit politics.
While I don't agree with screening comments about political personalities and public figures and the government should not interfere with freedom of social media, at the same time these sites should take utmost care in screening vituperative comments about particular communities/religions and websites which propagate hate. The physical location of HQ in US can't be a logic for no-action, they have to adhere to local sensitivities specially in a country which is known for a divided society. Social media can't be allowed to spread hatred among religions and communities.
Where is this country heading to? Who are these Politicians to curtail freedom of expression living in the so called 'world's largest democracy? How long India is destined to endure such downright sycophants and off-balance guys such as Kapil Sibal as Minsiters in the Cabinet? The likes of Kapil Sibal and Chidambaram should introspect on why there is so much criticism of MMS and Sonia Gandhi on the internet. It is because they have been absolute failures and one of them is corrupt and runs a family business for sure, while the other walks about with his hands ever thrown up saying 'compulsions of coalition politics' to indulge in all kinds of nasty dealings to cling on to his seat. Given the state we are in , how will the knowledgeable people of this country stand by and watch when their present condition is a matter of grim survival and their future heading towards real catastrophe? Never before in the history of Independent India , did we see a rotten political class..
Nowadays Mr.Sibal is performing “HIS MASTER VOICE" perfectly. Being a senior most lawyer cum minister,why he is threatening the peoples? If he is really found any defamatory contents against his masters then he can very well take the legal course of action, instead of that he is curbing the freedom of expression, despite being a communication minister of our country!
Kapil Sibal is making a mockery of the concept of free speech. In no democratic country will any government threaten websites for posting unverifiable facts about its leaders. Instead of thinking about how to develop India, these sycophantic ministers are wasting their time. Shameful !!
Mr. Union Minister of Communications and IT Kapil Sibal - You don't have rights to stop public opinion on the current leaders. We have both rights to prize them and show up there mistakes. If they are perfect why will public put any kind of morphed pictures against them. First try to change your way of ruling and then those morphed pictures and videos will automatically go. Be perfect in your work instead.
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