Fwd: (napmap) Fw: India's free speech under attack! - Internet freedom under attack

[Ramachandraiah Chigurupati]

FYI and action

sorry for cross postings

CR

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Deccan Development Society <ddshyd...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 31, 2011 at 4:47 PM
Subject: (napmap) Fw: India's free speech under attack! - Internet freedom under attack
To: ddshyd...@gmail.com


Dear Friends,

We have signed the petition below, objecting to removal of our internet freedom. We request you to please sign the petition & forward this mail around to your mailing list.

Regards.
DDS Team

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Dear friends across India,

Our government has quietly just enacted an internet gag rule that will block blogs, posts and tweets for vague and unconstitutional reasons. But a citizen’s outcry can force an end to this attack on freedom of speech. India has 55 million internet users -- let's come together in a massive wave of support for internet freedom. Click below to sign the petition:

Our government has quietly just enacted an internet gag rule that will take us back to the dark days of emergency censorship -- blocking blogs, posts and tweets for vague and unconstitutional reasons. But a citizen’s outcry can force an end to this attack on freedom of speech. The IT Ministry is forcing internet service providers like Google and Facebook to censor what we can see based on vague grounds including harassment, blasphemy or disparaging communication. This means, Google could be forced to take down a blog post criticizing a journalist for biased reporting because it’s “disparaging”. ISPs are pushing back and there is a legal challenge in the works. We can join the fight and force the IT Ministry to end their attack on free speech. India has 55 million internet users -- let's come together in a massive wave of support for internet freedom. Click below to sign the petition and forward it to everyone:http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_internet_freedom/?vlThe internet censorship law blocks all content that is “grossly harmful”, “harassing”, “blasphemous”, “disparaging” or threatens “friendly relations with foreign states” among many other equally vague reasons. It forces ISPs and hosts to immediately remove content on request from any citizen without any formal process of review or proper checks and balances. We have no time to lose -- these rules undermine our civil liberties that are safeguarded under Article 19 of the Constitution of India and essential to a vibrant, democratic society. The government has heeded our calls before -- it repealed the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act in 2004 after a huge outcry over gross abuses. We can once again force the government to listen and stop eroding our fundamental rights behind closed doors. Sign the petition now and share this with everyone!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_internet_freedom/?vl Internet freedom is a key indication of the strength of a modern democracy. Tightening controls will put India in the company of states like China and Iran. It will threaten free communication between Indians and cut our country off from the rest of the world. Let’s bring India back from the darkness of censorship together. With hope, Saloni, Alice, David, Emma, Ricken, Shibayan, and the rest of the Avaaz team. SOURCES IT Act, if enforced, will leave Internet use no freer than in China, DNA Indiahttp://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_it-act-if-enforced-will-leave-internet-use-in-india-no-freer-than-in-china_1543284 Draconian rulebook irks netizens, Deccan Chroniclehttp://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/chennai/draconian-rulebook-irks-netizens-356 India sliding down Internet freedom - Freedom Institute, RTNhttp://rtn.asia/275_india-sliding-down-internet-freedom-freedom-institute New cyber regulation smells of Big Brother, Hindustan Timeshttp://www.hindustantimes.com/New-cyber-regulations-smell-of-Big-Brother/Article1-695089.aspx Concern over impact of Internet control rules on free speech, The Hinduhttp://www.hindu.com/2011/05/11/stories/2011051165001100.htm Google opposes proposed Internet law, India Todayhttp://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/google-opposes-proposed-internet-restrictions-in-india/1/137758.html Google external lawyer on India, Wall Street Journalhttp://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/05/12/google-external-lawyer-on-india%E2%80%99s-net-rules/Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way -- donate here.

Avaaz.org is an 9-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Dr. C. Ramachandraiah

Professor in Urban Studies

Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS)

Begumpet, HYDERABAD - 500016, India

www.cess.ac.in

Tel: +91 40 2341 6611

Fax: +91 40 2340 6808

Mobile: 94400 35405

To know our activities against Hyderabad Elevated Metro and download some documents, please visit  www.citizenhyderabad.in 

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest”, - Elie Wiesel (Nobel Peace Prize Lecture, December 11, 1986).