A new report by the Software Freedom Law Center traces censorship done through the blocking of websites, applications, and social media accounts in India. Below are some highlights:
- The total number of websites, URLs, applications, social media posts, and accounts that are blocked in India within the time period from 2015 to 2022 is 55,580.
- The biggest share of website blocking is done under section 69A of the IT Act. The number of websites blocked stands at 22,447 which is 47.5 percent of the total blocked websites. Out of which 26,352 websites were blocked by MEITY and 94 were blocked by MIB.
- The second highest number of website blocks are ordered by courts for infringement of copyright. The number stands at 26, 024 which is 46.8 percent of the total websites that have been blocked.
- The third major ground for blocking is obscenity, CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material), and pornography. A total of 1,065 websites have been blocked in the time period from 2015 to 2022.