The recent blocking of the VLC Media Player

Subject: Science and tech

Why VLC was banned?

The website has been blocked as per order of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under IT Act, 2000
Although VLC is not a Chinese app, reports from cybersecurity firms, such as Symantec, in April this year suggested that Cicada, a hacker group allegedly backed by China, has been using the VLC Media Player to deploy a malicious malware loader.

In which situations can online content be blocked to the public?

There are two routes through which content can be blocked online — executive and judicial.
Section69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- Section 69A allows the government to direct an intermediary to “block for access by the public ….. any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource” if it is “necessary or expedient to do so, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence”.
- Section 69A draws its power from Article 19(2) of the Constitution which allows the government to place reasonable restrictions on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
Courts in India, also have the power to direct intermediaries to make content unavailable in India to provide effective remedy to the victim/plaintiff.
- For example, courts may order internet service providers to block websites which provide access to pirated content and violate the plaintiff’s copyright.

What is the procedure for blocking access to content online?

A detailed procedure for blocking content is provided by the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 (IT Rules, 2009) that have been formulated under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Only Central govt has the power not State –
- An important point to note is that only the Central government can exercise this power of directing intermediaries to block access to online content directly, and not the State governments.
Nodal Officer –
- The procedure typically provides that Central or State agencies will appoint a “nodal officer” who will forward the blocking order to the “designated officer” of the Central government.
Designated officer –
- The designated officer, as part of a committee, examines the request of the nodal officer.
Committee–
- The committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of Law and Justice, Information and Broadcasting, Home Affairs, and the Cert-In.
- The creator/host of the content in question is given a notice to submit clarifications and replies.
- The committee then makes a recommendation on whether the request of the nodal officer should be accepted or not.
- If this recommendation is approved by the MeitY, the designated officer can direct the intermediary to remove content.

Other provisions

Rule 16 of the IT Rules, 2009 provides that strict confidentiality is to be maintained with respect to any requests or actions under the IT Rules, 2009.
Non-compliance with directions under the IT Rules can lead to loss of immunity from liability for content being hosted

Yacht found adrift off Raigad coast with weapons, owner’s husband says to keep Somali pirates at bay

The 16-metre-long yacht, Lady Han, was found by local fisherfolk off Harihareshwar beach in Raigad district, 190 km from Mumbai
Sailing master Robert James said: “This yacht is owned by my wife. I was sailing with three others to Europe from Dubai. Our next halt was at Salalah (Oman) and later, we were to pass through the Suez Canal.”