[Chapter-delegates] Of possible interest: India's new Internet laws go against fundamental right to freedom of speech

[Narelle]

It does seem rather - shall I suggest most politely, respectfully, yet
earnestly - strong?

quoting:
"Users shall not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit,
update or share any information that is grossly harmful, harassing,
blasphemous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic,
libellous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially,
ethnically objectionable, disparaging, relating or encouraging money
laundering or gambling, or otherwise unlawful in any manner [...]

users may not publish anything that threatens the unity, integrity,
defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with
foreign states, or or
public order or causes incitement to the commission of any cognisable
offence or prevents investigation of any offence or is insulting any
other nation."

The use of the word "disparaging" to me is particularly problematic.

Disparaging means 'criticizing someone, in a way that shows you do not
respect or value them' according to the Cambridge Dictionary. In
common usage it can carry an even less personal meaning, in that it
might just be the person's actions that are criticised. How is this
determined?

Then there is the concept of "transmit" does this only apply to
"users" relaying or reposting, rather than web site operators or ISPs?

Clearly no-one will ever be able to mention the cricket on an Indian
web site ever again... nor the safety and security of Indian citizens
overseas!



On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 3:31 AM, Eduardo Diaz
<eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com> wrote:
> http://tinyurl.com/indiaspeech


Regards


Narelle


-- 


Narelle
narellec at gmail.com