NEW DELHI , Aug. 3 (UPI) -- India blocked Internet access to 857 free porn sites in what it claims is a move to prevent children from entering them.
The action Friday came after the country's Supreme Court refused to block porn sites, but was critical of the government's inability to do so, including those depicting child pornography. Many of the websites offered the message Monday the site was "blocked as per directions received from the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India." The ban includes Flashbot, a blog containing explicit photos, and Adult Friend Finder, a website on which users can find sexual partners.
Adults can, in theory, access the sites through virtual private networks and proxy servers.
The government has 30 days to explain its action. Some responders on social media suggested the ban is outside the latitude of Rule 12 of India's IT Act, allowing the government to block certain sites when it is "necessary or expedient...in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India."
An unidentified senior government official told the BBC the blockage was more a government advisement to control the websites.
"There is no total ban. This was done in the backdrop of Supreme Court's observation on children having free access to porn sites. The idea is also to protect India's cultural fabric. This will not prevent adults from visiting porn sites," he said, adding, "It is a temporary arrangement. The telecommunications department will eventually come up with a long term policy (of limiting access) to these sites later."
