Block only errant sites: DoT

NEW DELHI: After facing a barrage of criticism from bloggers worldwide, Department of Telecom (DoT) tried to come out clean by putting the ball in the Internet Service Providers’ (ISPs) court.

The department has clarified that it had asked the ISPs to block only the specified websites and pages and not the parent websites.

In a letter issued to the various ISPs, DoT says that it had come to notice that in some cases the parent website had been blocked in contravention to its earlier order dated 13th July 2006 where it had ordered the ISPs to block certain websites/webpages.

DoT has now directed all the ISPs to strictly comply with the 13th July 2006 order and provide unhindered Internet access except to the websites/webpages specifically mentioned in its orders issued from time to time.

Interestingly, DoT has also further sought explanation from the erring ISPs as to why action should not be taken against them for blocking unintended websites/webpages.