22 August,2016 01:05 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Forget about downloading torrents, now users in India can face jail time and a hefty Rs 3 lakh for even visiting or viewing a blocked website. Up until now, there would be a simple message when a blocked torrent site or URL was visited that it won't be available for viewing
Forget about downloading torrents, now users in India can face jail time and a hefty Rs 3 lakh for even visiting or viewing a blocked website. Up until now, there would be a simple message when a blocked torrent site or URL was visited that it won't be available for viewing.
Representational picture
But, a recent report by a major online news website has discovered that simply typing the URL or clicking on and 'viewing' or 'visiting' the website will net the users the aforementioned penalty.
According to reports the following message appears once any blocked website is accessed. Read the full transcript below...
"This URL has been blocked under the instructions of the Competent Government Authority or in compliance with the orders of a Court of competent jurisdiction. Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also fine of upto Rs. 3,00,000/-.
Any person aggrieved by any such blocking of this URL may contact at urlblock@tatacommunications.com who will, within 48 hours, provide you the details of relevant proceedings under which you can approach the relevant High Court or Authority for redressal of your grievance"
In a bid to curb online piracy, espcially illegal downloads of popular films, television shows and even pornographic content, the Indian government has cracked down heavily on several websites that supply the content in recent years.
