Indian Court Forces Facebook, Google to Censor Content

ZDNet: India’s highest court has ruled that 21 Internet companies must present plans for blocking objectionable content within the next two weeks. Despite earlier arguing that it was impossible for them to censor content that flowed through their services, Facebook and Google say that they have already complied with the order and have begun blocking offensive content for Indian users.

The ruling comes in a case brought by journalist Vinay Rai, who accused the Internet sites of showing images that seek “to create enmity, hatred, and communal violence” and “will corrupt minds.” Indian law requires websites to remove “ethnically objectionable,” “blasphemous,” or “grossly harmful” content within 36 hours of a complaint.