Google India on Monday argued before Delhi high court that blocking certain websites was not an option as democratic India isn’t a “totalitarian” regime like China.
NEW DELHI: Reeling under pressure from the government, which has sanctioned prosecution,Google India on Monday argued before Delhi high court that blocking certain websites was not an option as democratic India isn't a "totalitarian" regime like China.
To make its point how blocking a website might deprive users from a lot of useful information, the company demonstrated to HC how an online search for a word like "virgin" has 82.30 crore search results within 0.33 seconds. It said the idea of blocking a word like this would deprive netusers the required information, which could relate to Virgin Airlines or 'virgin areas for inventions', lawyer appearing for the website argued.
On its part Facebook argued the company acts immediately once it receives information that an offensive content has been posted, even as it has adequate checks in place to prevent it.
Google and Facebook are amongst 20 websites facing criminal proceedings for allegedly hosting objectionable materials. "The issue relates to a constitutional issue of freedom of speech and expression and suppressing it was not possible as the right to freedom of speech in democratic India separates us from a totalitarian regime like China," senior advocate N K Kaul, appearing for Google India told Justice Suresh Kait.
To make its point how blocking a website might deprive users from a lot of useful information, the company demonstrated to HC how an online search for a word like "virgin" has 82.30 crore search results within 0.33 seconds. It said the idea of blocking a word like this would deprive netusers the required information, which could relate to Virgin Airlines or 'virgin areas for inventions', lawyer appearing for the website argued.
On its part Facebook argued the company acts immediately once it receives information that an offensive content has been posted, even as it has adequate checks in place to prevent it.
Google and Facebook are amongst 20 websites facing criminal proceedings for allegedly hosting objectionable materials. "The issue relates to a constitutional issue of freedom of speech and expression and suppressing it was not possible as the right to freedom of speech in democratic India separates us from a totalitarian regime like China," senior advocate N K Kaul, appearing for Google India told Justice Suresh Kait.
