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Comment by Marc_Bryan | Hacker News Reader

India, ruled by some big(!) heads who doesn't understand a dot in technology. They are governed by impulsive decisions of the policy makers and it's a name sake democracy. No real freedom of speech is allowed there AFAIK. Govt / Private / Policing is just too much and a lot of gag order as well. They just can't stand anything and consequences could cost a life too! Technology is being used by most of the population who doesn't even know what is behind the scenes. ISPs utilise it do whatever they want and there is a ruling body known as TRAI / DOT which doesn't care to explain the rationale behind any of their decisions for blocking / banning etc., God save that country!

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> there is a ruling body known as TRAI / DOT which doesn't care to explain the rationale behind any of their decisions for blocking / banning etc.

This is a big misconception in India. The URL blocking for the major part is ordered by courts and not the government - https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/ban-porn-sit...

> The URL blocking for the major part is ordered by courts and not the government

I can't speak to TRAI and DOT involvement, but the statement that courts are not part of the "government" is an over-technical definition centered around Parliamentary technicalities that happen to use the word, and of limited utility here. The courts are very much part of the apparatus which governs the people of a nation.

I see where you are coming from but the distinction is important because a lot of times these discussions are followed up by discussion about voting for certain political parties with suggestions of one political party banning/censoring more than other political parties. If one doesn't focus on the exact points of change where it's possible, complaining against the "big government" is going to be a very slow process to bring change.

Some group presumably passed the laws the court is enforcing? (Unless they're interpretting the constitution to require blocking DDG, I dunno). Seems like you would want to vote against those people if this is your important issue.

Why don't English speakers use the term "state" to talk about the "human community which lays claim to the monopoly on the legitimated use of physical force"? Is it because they want to avoid confusion with states as in "The United States"?

Not all governments are states. Cities may also have governments, for instance, as might informal associations. In this case where it is less important that the actor is a state; it is more important that they are exercising authority and power, setting and enforcing policy.

Therefore, in this case, the term "government" is a better fit than "state".

Courts do function independently of the government. The constitution also confers enormous powers over them, so much that contempt of court is exempt from Freedom of speech.

Agree, bunch of fuckin morons at the top, the Prime Minister is following China's playbook and tries to pass all these so called bans based on his whims and fancies trying to whip up so called "patriotism", trying to divert attention from the rising covid cases.

TRAI does come under RTI. Any instance of them denying a RTI request?

I believe RTI has become dysfunctional in India. That's what the recent news is. Most of the RTI requests are being denied citing national security (!!) or things alike. I'm not sure about it though.

It is rendered dysfunctional. Authorities of RTI have been diluted and funding has been witheld by the current govt which came to power pretending to care for transparency!

Their followers who used to love transparency when opposition was in power are suddenly silent and hate transparency!

and their IT cell is actively sowing disinformation on online forums. You can see the comment history of some folks on this very discussion who are trying to divert attention by saying seemingly stupid things, but they are not stupid, they are brilliantly trying to sabotage questions.

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