India wants Facebook, Google, Yahoo and other major internet companies to prescreen user content before it’s uploaded on their websites to make sure that no disparaging, inflammatory or defamatory content ever goes online again.
"Like China, we will block all such websites," Justice Suresh Kait said while asking counsel for Facebook and Google to develop a mechanism to keep a check and remove "offensive and objectionable" material from their web pages.
Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Google India, said the postings of "obscene, objectionable and defamatory" articles and other things cannot be "filtered" or "monitored".
"No human interference is possible, and moreover, it can’t be feasible to check such incidents. Billions of people across the globe, post their articles on the website. Yes, they may be defamatory, obscene but cannot be checked," he said.
He assured the court that if the complainant provides defamatory articles to Google India, then it can use "its good office" in getting them removed by its holding US-based firm.
Additional solicitor general (ASG) AS Chandhiok, appearing for the Centre, objected to the plea of Google India saying the US-based Google Inc has "sufficient mechanism" to know that what is offending material.
Facebook, Google case is being heard by Delhi High Court and is yet to reach a decision.
Via HT