Dear Friends,
The freedom of an internet user is facing serious threats from many
quarters ? the Ministry of IT, various state governments and the police and
now certain major Internet Service Providers (ISP's) such as Reliance
Communications, Airtel and MTNL. Major sites such as Vimeo and various
Torrent sites commonly used for exchange of large files are being blocked
by these ISP's, even though no instructions have been issued by the
Government.
We have already seen the effect of the IT Rules in which a huge number of
requests are now being directed to intermediaries such as Google, Facebook,
etc. for taking down statements critical of the Government and political
figures. Cases are being instituted by the Police under the IT Act against
circulating of cartoons, calling it a cyber-crime. All this shows that our
democratic freedoms guaranteed under the constitution are currently under
attack. Equally worrying is the tendency of courts to issue blanket orders
-- called John Doe orders -- to protect the Intellectual Property of
certain media companies. Reliance Communications, an ISP is acting in the
interest of Reliance as a Media company to block a large number of Torrent
sites.
Against such actions of the Government and the ISP's, the Free Software
Movement of India (FSMI) has called for peaceful protests across the
country[1], and appeals to all democratic minded citizens to participate on
the 9th of June 2012. In connection with this the Free Software Foundation,
Tamil Nadu (FSFTN) in solidarity with other communities organising a
peaceful protest meeting in Chennai.
Time: 4.00 PM - 6.00 PM
Venue: Besant Nagar Beach
In the light of protest calls made by other communities, we feel it is
important to discuss about internet freedom and censorship. This is an
opportunity for you to know about the rights of an internet user and to
contribute your share in upholding the same. Please be present for the same
and voice your concerns!
You can know more about Free Software and Internet Freedom from the
websites of FSFTN: http://fsftn.org/ and FSMI: http://fsmi.in/.
For details or to participate please contact Arun: 9488000707, Sibi:
9840670143
[1] - http://www.fsmi.in/content/protest-9th-june-internet-freedom
--
Alagunambi Welkin
Executive Committee Member,
Free Software Foundation, Tamil Nadu,
part of Free Software Movement of India.
www.fsftn.org