[Fsf-friends] Indian governments blocking blogspot, geocities, and other sites.

[Anivar Aravind]

> It seems like this news has been covered by the media as well. Times
> and DNA have published columns on this in today's issue. From what i
> read, it seems like a well intentioned policing which backfired. They
> intended to block certain blogs but ISPs ended up blocking entire
> blogger.com.

A good update on the situation is there on  Global voices  by Neha
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2006/07/17/india-blocking-access-to-blogs-on-blogspot-and-typepad-in-india/

and it is nice to remember the experience of blocking  the yahoogroups
in the name of militant National Liberation Council (HNLC) of the
Khasi tribe started a public list named kynhun in 2003 , and its
popularity and visibility went up by leaps and bounds instantaneously,
despite it being blocked by all ISPs!
a case study is here
http://www.thehoot.org/story.asp?storyid=Web210214166221Hoot72410%20PM935&pn=1

Govt's need to understand that any kind of censorship will not work on
internet.
The online community will overcome any ban with the help of social
technologies.
See the wiki page of Bloggers against censorship
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Bloggers_Against_Censorship

~ Regards
Anivar