Latest news with #MEITY
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India cracks down on independent news websites and Twitter profiles amid ‘information war'
India reportedly blocked access to an independent news website and ordered the removal of Pakistan-linked content across digital platforms in a sweeping clampdown on online information amid growing cross-border tensions. The website of The Wire, a news organisation known for its investigative journalism and critical coverage of the government, became inaccessible across much of the country on Friday. While officials have not issued any public order or statement, internet service providers told The Wire that the site had been blocked following directions from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) under the Information Technology Act, 2000, it said in a statement. The publication said it would challenge the action in court and the move amounted to 'a clear violation of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press'. In another instance, the X handle of Maktoob Media, another Indian news website, was also withheld. In a statement, X (formerly Twitter) said it has received executive orders from the Indian government to block access to over 8,000 accounts within India. The company said the orders came with threats of 'significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees' for non-compliance. 'In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws,' the company said. 'For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts.' X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees. The orders include demands to block access in India to… — Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) May 8, 2025 India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a separate advisory instructing online intermediaries, including social media platforms and streaming services, to take down all content 'having its origins in Pakistan'. 'In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect,' read the advisory dated 8 May. The advisory did not define what qualified as such content or specify any legal framework under which it was issued. The Indian Ministry of Defence also on Friday asked 'all media channels, digital platforms and individuals' to refrain from 'live coverage or real-time reporting of defence operations and movement of security forces'. 'Disclosure of such sensitive or source-based information may jeopardise operational effectiveness and endanger lives. Past incidents like the Kargil War, 26/11 attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking underscore the risks of premature reporting. As per clause 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, only periodic briefings by designated officials are permitted during anti-terror operations. In 1999, India and Pakistan fought a brief but intense conflict in the mountains above Kargil on the Line of Control, the cease-fire line dividing the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir. 'All stakeholders are urged to exercise vigilance, sensitivity, and responsibility in coverage, upholding the highest standards in the service of the nation,' the ministry said. The 26/11 attacks refer to the 2008 militant strikes in India's financial capital Mumbai in which over 160 people were killed. In the 1999 Kandahar hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814 from Kathmandu, India blames Pakistan and Pakistan-based militant groups. The hijacking was resolved after New Delhi freed three Islamist militants, including Masood Azhar, the head of one such group. Lawyer and Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) director Apar Gupta said the government's move to block The Wire was not accompanied by a transparent legal order and appears consistent with a broader pattern of digital censorship. 'The restriction on access to The Wire's website does not emerge from any clear legal order, as it is not being disclosed and there is no public statement which exists on record,' Mr Gupta told The Independent. 'That matches a pattern of web censorship through the IT Rules 2021, where directions for blocking content are not transparently disclosed – either to the public or even to the impacted parties.' He added that a similar case involving the takedown of 4PM News's YouTube channel had reached the Delhi High Court, which has asked the government to respond. IFF also raised concerns about the 8 May advisory, which it said could lead to over-compliance by platforms and remove a wide range of material not connected to misinformation or threats to national security. All media channels, digital platforms and individuals are advised to refrain from live coverage or real-time reporting of defence operations and movement of security forces. Disclosure of such sensitive or source-based information may jeopardize operational effectiveness and… — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2025 'The advisory rests on no clear statutory footing and imposes an indiscriminate, origin-based embargo,' the foundation said in a separate written statement. 'We urge the government to support Indian journalists and fact-checkers and issue content takedowns as a last resort.' The crackdown comes amid an information vacuum fuelled by rising military tensions between India and Pakistan. Television news channels have faced criticism for airing misleading or false footage, including a widely broadcast video claimed to be from India's recent missile strike across the border, which fact-checkers later identified as footage from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in 2023. Social media platforms have seen a surge in unverified claims, including videos of old explosions, AI-generated imagery and repurposed gaming footage shared as evidence of Pakistani retaliation. The government has not made public which specific content prompted the 8 May advisory, or whether it is tied to any verified disinformation campaigns. With access to some news websites restricted, international platforms facing growing regulatory pressure, and misinformation circulating unchecked on mainstream television and encrypted apps, some observers have raised concerns about the shrinking availability of reliable information for Indian readers during a time of national crisis.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
India cracks down on independent news websites and Twitter profiles amid ‘information war'
India reportedly blocked access to an independent news website and ordered the removal of Pakistan -linked content across digital platforms in a sweeping clampdown on online information amid growing cross-border tensions. The website of The Wire, a news organisation known for its investigative journalism and critical coverage of the government, became inaccessible across much of the country on Friday. While officials have not issued any public order or statement, internet service providers told The Wire that the site had been blocked following directions from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) under the Information Technology Act, 2000, it said in a statement. The publication said it would challenge the action in court and the move amounted to 'a clear violation of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press'. In another instance, the X handle of Maktoob Media, another Indian news website, was also withheld. In a statement, X (formerly Twitter) said it has received executive orders from the Indian government to block access to over 8,000 accounts within India. The company said the orders came with threats of 'significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees' for non-compliance. 'In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws,' the company said. 'For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts.' India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a separate advisory instructing online intermediaries, including social media platforms and streaming services, to take down all content 'having its origins in Pakistan'. 'In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect,' read the advisory dated 8 May. The advisory did not define what qualified as such content or specify any legal framework under which it was issued. The Indian Ministry of Defence also on Friday asked 'all media channels, digital platforms and individuals' to refrain from 'live coverage or real-time reporting of defence operations and movement of security forces'. 'Disclosure of such sensitive or source-based information may jeopardise operational effectiveness and endanger lives. Past incidents like the Kargil War, 26/11 attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking underscore the risks of premature reporting. As per clause 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, only periodic briefings by designated officials are permitted during anti-terror operations. In 1999, India and Pakistan fought a brief but intense conflict in the mountains above Kargil on the Line of Control, the cease-fire line dividing the former kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir. 'All stakeholders are urged to exercise vigilance, sensitivity, and responsibility in coverage, upholding the highest standards in the service of the nation,' the ministry said. The 26/11 attacks refer to the 2008 militant strikes in India's financial capital Mumbai in which over 160 people were killed. In the 1999 Kandahar hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814 from Kathmandu, India blames Pakistan and Pakistan-based militant groups. The hijacking was resolved after New Delhi freed three Islamist militants, including Masood Azhar, the head of one such group. Lawyer and Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) director Apar Gupta said the government's move to block The Wire was not accompanied by a transparent legal order and appears consistent with a broader pattern of digital censorship. 'The restriction on access to The Wire's website does not emerge from any clear legal order, as it is not being disclosed and there is no public statement which exists on record,' Mr Gupta told The Independent. 'That matches a pattern of web censorship through the IT Rules 2021, where directions for blocking content are not transparently disclosed – either to the public or even to the impacted parties.' He added that a similar case involving the takedown of 4PM News's YouTube channel had reached the Delhi High Court, which has asked the government to respond. IFF also raised concerns about the 8 May advisory, which it said could lead to over-compliance by platforms and remove a wide range of material not connected to misinformation or threats to national security. 'The advisory rests on no clear statutory footing and imposes an indiscriminate, origin-based embargo,' the foundation said in a separate written statement. 'We urge the government to support Indian journalists and fact-checkers and issue content takedowns as a last resort.' The crackdown comes amid an information vacuum fuelled by rising military tensions between India and Pakistan. Television news channels have faced criticism for airing misleading or false footage, including a widely broadcast video claimed to be from India's recent missile strike across the border, which fact-checkers later identified as footage from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in 2023. Social media platforms have seen a surge in unverified claims, including videos of old explosions, AI-generated imagery and repurposed gaming footage shared as evidence of Pakistani retaliation. The government has not made public which specific content prompted the 8 May advisory, or whether it is tied to any verified disinformation campaigns. With access to some news websites restricted, international platforms facing growing regulatory pressure, and misinformation circulating unchecked on mainstream television and encrypted apps, some observers have raised concerns about the shrinking availability of reliable information for Indian readers during a time of national crisis.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Guwahati to host AI event on May 9
Guwahati: The Union ministry of electronics and information technology ( MEITY ) in partnership with , along with Ikigai Law as a partner, will organise a consultation event on ' AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)' at Assam Administrative Staff College, here on May 9. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The event will be the 4th AI RAM event in the country out of five, which have been previously organised in New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The upcoming event will mostly focus on shaping the country's policy making in AI. Guwahati: The Union ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY) in partnership with UNESCO, along with Ikigai Law as a partner, will organise a consultation event on 'AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)' at Assam Administrative Staff College, here on May 9. The event will be the 4th AI RAM event in the country out of five, which have been previously organised in New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The upcoming event will mostly focus on shaping the country's policy making in AI.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Block Swiss encrypted email service Proton Mail, Karnataka High Court to Centre
The Karnataka High Court Tuesday directed the Centre to block the Swiss secure email service Proton Mail in the country. A single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna also asked the government to take steps to block the offending URLs of Proton Mail until the encrypted email service is blocked in India. In this case, a Bengaluru firm, M Moser Design Associates, had approached the high court about the alleged targeting of some women employees using the Proton Mail service, wherein emails with obscene content, including AI-generated 'deepfake' images, had been sent. The petition called for agreements between India and Switzerland to obtain information and documents regarding the sender of the offensive emails and to preserve them. It also called for steps to ban the plaKarnatform. The petitioner's counsel stated that, although the service allowed users to select India as a location, its servers were actually located outside the country. The plea also highlighted previous instances where the platform's blockage was sought on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Police. It also noted that several bomb threats had been sent to schools using the platform. Issuing an order in favour of the petitioner, the bench stated, 'Mandamus issued to respondents- Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and Ministry of Communications to initiate proceedings in terms of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 read with Rule 10 of the IT Procedure and Safeguards of Blocking of Access to Information by Public Access Rules, 2009 to block ProtonMail.' Section 69A of the IT Act gives the government the power to block access to certain information through computer resources. A detailed order is awaited. Previously, the Delhi High Court had directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Delhi Police to investigate the use of Proton Mail. As reported by the Indian Express, the Delhi High Court matter dealt with a habeas corpus petition. It sought the production of the petitioner's wife and their two minor children after the woman was found to be corresponding with her father over Proton Mail, which the police claimed is banned in India. This March, before the Karnataka High Court, MEITY sent a communication stating that ProtonMail was not actually blocked. It stated, 'MEITY can exercise this power (blocking) upon receipt of a request from a Nodal Officer and after examination and recommendation by the Committee…… action can also be taken under section 69A if so ordered by a competent Court. It is submitted that Proton Mail has not been blocked in India under Section 69A of IT Act, 2000 and is operating in India.'
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
AI-driven governance key to future: CM Chandrababu Naidu
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday unveiled a bold vision for Andhra Pradesh's future, emphasising AI-driven governance that balances technology with human-centric solutions. Speaking at a two-day AI workshop, he highlighted the importance of real-time service delivery, and intelligent systems to redefine public administration. Reflecting on the State's progress, he said, 'From 2 Mbps for audio-video to gigabit connectivity today, we've come far.' Stressing the need to overhaul outdated systems, he said, 'Inefficient systems hold us back. It's time to replace old laws with smart and digital solutions.' To drive this vision forward, the Chief Minister proposed appointing an AI Champion in every department to spearhead innovative use cases, such as drone surveillance and Aadhaar-linked disaster relief deliveries. The cornerstone of his vision is a state-wide Data Lake to integrate massive datasets for predictive governance. Naidu set ambitious goals, including full infrastructure saturation for housing and sanitation by 2028-29, and uplifting underprivileged families through Public-Private-People Partnership (P4). Expressing optimism about achieving 15% economic growth, he drew parallels with Telangana's transformation. He highlighted Andhra Pradesh's industrial growth since 1995, fuelled by second-generation reforms, and a new wave of entrepreneurs driving economic progress. While championing AI's potential, he underscored the need for empathy in governance, stating that 'technology must address real problems with a human touch.' He noted that 75% of governance grievances involve land issues, which can be resolved through digitised records. Highlighting India's innovation journey, he remarked, 'We once marvelled at ISRO's satellites. Now, Indian startups build them for Rs 30 crore. World is watching us.' The workshop, themed 'AI and Emerging Technologies for Government Digital Transformation,' aims to equip senior and mid-level officers with the knowledge and tools to implement AI-driven innovations. R Chandrasekhar, former Secretary of MEITY and DoT, praised Naidu's early adoption of IT in governance. Prakash Kumar, CEO of Wadhwani Centre, highlighted their 20-year legacy in training for entrepreneurship, skilling, and digital governance. The workshop trains IAS, IPS and IFS officers as AI Champions and young officials as AI Enablers, detailing AI applications in various fields. Chief Secretary K Vijayanand lauded the initiative as a significant step forward, emphasising that it would empower the departments to leverage technology and AI to deliver timely services to the people. ITE&C Department Secretary Katamaneni Bhaskar underscored the workshop's role in enabling government departments to provide superior services to citizens, stating that training is a continuous process and that the workshop would explore over 300 use cases, fostering a two-way communication approach.
