Centre for Internet and Society

Report of Wiki Workshop in Mangalore

praskrishna — 2013-04-16T06:14:42Z

A wikipedia workshop was organized in Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, Mangalore on April 9, 2013. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja participated in the workshop. Prajavani's Mangalore edition published a report about the felicitation to K.P. Rao and about the wikipedia workshop.

Below is the report published in Prajavani on April 10, 2013.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/prajavani-mangalore-edition-april-10-2013-report-of-wikipedia-workshop

Report of the Group of Experts on Privacy

praskrishna — 2012-11-06T09:39:43Z

The report covers international privacy principles, national privacy principles, rationale and emerging issues along with an analysis of relevant legislations/bills from a privacy perspective.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-of-group-of-experts-on-privacy.pdf

Report of the Evaluation Committee on Continuation of the Scheme of Intellectual Property Education, Research and Public Outreach (IPERPO) (“the Scheme”) in the XII Five Year Plan Period 2012-2017

praskrishna — 2014-06-26T01:41:59Z

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/report-of-the-evaluation-committee.pdf

Reply to RTI Application on the List of Nodal Officers Designated Under the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009

praskrishna — 2013-03-21T06:30:57Z

The Centre for Internet and Society had sent an RTI to the Department of Electronics & Information Technology on December 4, 2012. The Department responded to the same through this notification on January 7, 2013. The letter sent and the notification received are reproduced below.

Shri Anil Kaushik Scientist E Office of PIO (RTI) Electronics Niketan
Department of Information Technology (DIT) Ministry of Communications and Information Technology 6, CGO Complex, New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Subject: Information on nodal officers appointed requested under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

1. Füll Name of the Applicant: Centre for Internet and Society

2. Address of the Applicant:

E-mail Address:

Mailing Address:
Centre for Internet and Society
194, 2-C Cross,
Domlur Stage II,
Bangalore-560071

3. Details of the information required:

The Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 ("Rules") provides for the désignation of nodal officers under Rule 4. Rule 4 states that every Organization shall designate one of its officers as the Nodal Officer for the purpose of implementing the Rules. Rule 4 also provides that every Organization shall inform the Department of Information Technology of the désignation of such a Nodal Officer. In this regard, we request information on the following queries under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:

Does the Department of Electronics and Information Technology maintain a list of all Nodal Officers designated under Rule 4 of the Rules?
If so, please provide me a copy of any list containing information about the Nodal Officers designated under Rule 4 of the Rules.
Years to which the above requests pertain:'

2009-2012

5. Designation and Address of the PIO from whom the information is required:
Shri Anil Kaushik Scientist E Office of PIO (RTI) Electronics Niketan
Department of Information Technology (DIT) Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
6, CGO Complex, New Delhi

To the best of my belief, the details sought for fall within your authority. Further, as provided under section 6(3) of the Right to Information Act ("RTI Act"), in case this application does not fall within your authority, I request you to transfer the same in the designated time (5 days) to the concerned authority and inform me of the same immediately.

To the best of my knowledge the information sought does not fall within the restrictions contained in section 8 and 9 of the RTI Act, and any provision protecting such information in any other law for the time being in force is inapplicable due to section 22 of the RTI Act.

Please provide me this information in electronic form, via the e-mail address provided above. This is to certify that I, Smitha Krishna Prasad, am a citizen of India.

(Smitha Krishna Prasad

A fee of Rs. 10/־ (Rupees Ten Only) has been made out in the form of a demand draft drawn in favour of "Pay and Accounts Officer, Department of Information Technology" payable at New Delhi.

Date: Tuesday December 4, 2012
Place: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Below is the reply received from the Department of Electronics & Information Technology:

No. 14(142)/2012-ESD
M/o Communiciations & Information Technololgy Department of Electronics & Information Technology Electronics Niketan,6, CGO Complex
New Delhi-110003

Dated: 7.1.2003

Subject: RTI application received from Shri Smitha Krishna Prasad

This is with reference to your RTI application requesting for the following information:

The Information Technology (Procédure and Safeguards for blocking for access of information by public) Rules, 2009 ("Rules") provides for the désignation of nodal officers under Rule 4. Rule 4 states that every organisation shall designate one of its officers as the Nodal Officer for the purpose of implementing the Rules. Rule 4 also provides that every organisation shall inform the Department of Information Technology of the désignation of such a Nodal Officer. In this regard, we request information on the following queries under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act,2005.

Does the Department of Electronics and Information Technology maintain a list of all Nodal Officers designated under rule 4 of the Rules?
If so, please provide me a copy of any list containing information about the Nodal Officers designated under Rule 4 of the rules.

The information as received from the custodian of the information is placed below:

Department of Electronics and Information Technology maintains a list of Nodal Officers designated under rule 4 of the Information Technology (Procédure and Safeguards for blocking for access of information by public) Rules, 2009.
A copy of list of Nodal Officer is enclosed at Annexure.

(A.K. Kaushik)
Additional Director & CPIO
(E-Security & Cyber Laws)

Centre for Internet & Society
194, 2-C Cross, Domlur Stage II
Bangalore - 560071

Annexure

List of Nodal Officers

Director, Dept. of Agriculture, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi
Adviser, Dept. of Biotechnology, Block-2, Room - 707, CGO Complex, New Delhi- 110003
Dy. Director General, Dept. of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Shastri Bhawan, N. Delhi-1
Jt. Secretary (Admn.), Room No. 321-A, Shastri Bhawan , N. Delhi-1
Scientist Gr. IV(6), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Anusandhan Bhavan, 2 Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110 001
Director (Coord), Dept. of Defence, R, No. 94, South Block, New Delhi - 110001
Director (B&C), Dept. of Defence Production, R. No. 146, B-Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi
Director, DESIDOC, 405, Cresent Apartment, Pocket 2, Sector 18A, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075
Deputy Secretary (res - I), Dept. of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Room No. 237, B-Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi-11
Scientist E, Room No. 3, Administrative Block, DSIR, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110 016
Director, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Block-12, CGO Complex, New Delhi - 110003
Dy. Secy (Budget Monitoring), Dept. of Economic Affairs, Room No. 238-B, North Block, New Delhi-110001
Deputy. Secretary, Room 1222, Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-3
Jt. Secy. (XP), Ministry of External Affairs, R.No. 152, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Deputy Secretary, Dept. of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, 3rd Floor, Jeevandeep, Parliament Street, N Delhi-1
Under Secretary, Min. of Food Processing Industry, Panchsheel Bhawan, Room No 117, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi - 110049
DDG (Stats), Dept. of Health & Family Welfare, 518-A, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Jt. Director, Ministry of Home Affairs, 35, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi
Sr. Tech. Director,NIC, Room No. 108, A-Wing, Shashtri Bhawan, N. Delhi-1
JS & Legislative Counsel, Legislative Department, Min. of Law & Justice, Room No. 430A, A-Wing, Shastri Bhawan, N Delhi-11001
Deputy Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Min. of Law & Justice, Room No. 433A, A-Wing, Shashtri Bhawan, N Delhi-11001
Joint Secretary, Min. of Mines, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Director (R&A), Min. of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Room No. 203, B-Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001
DDG (Technology) Dept. of Posts, Room No. 524, Dak Bhawan, Parliament St., New Delhi - 110016
Joint Secretary, Min. of Power, Room No. 202, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001
Dy. Secretary, Dept. of Public Enterprises, Room No. 410, Block-14, Public Enterprises Bhavan, CGO Complex, N Delhi-110003
Executive Director (C&IS) Railway Board, Min. of Railways, Rail Bhavan, Raisina Road, New Delhi - 110 001
Director (Narcotics Control), Dept. of Revenue, Min. of Finance, Room No 48-A, North Block, N Delhi
Jt. Secy (T&A), Min. of Road Transport & Highways, Transport Bhawan, 1 Parliament Street, New Delhi
Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Room 428, Transport Bhavan, Sansad Marg, N Delhi-110001
Deputy Director, INSES, Indian Space Research Organisation, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bangalore-560231
Dy. Secy, Ministry of Steel, Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi
Additional Surveyor General, International Boundary Directorate (SGO), Room 37-B, L-II Block, Brassey Avenue, Church Road, N Delhi
Asstt. Director (PG-I), Department of Telecom, Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, N Delhi-1
Director, Ministry of Textile, Room No. 231, 2nd Floor, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi
Director (Admn), Min. of Urban Development,Room No. 235, "C" Wing, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
Director (IT), Ministry of Water resources, 627, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001
SD(IT)-2, A&N Admin., Govt. Polytechnic Campus, Junglighat (P.O.), Pahargaon, Port Blair-744 103
Special Officer (Portal), Room No. 208, A-Block, IT&C Department, A.P. Secretariat, Hyderabad-500022
Managing Director, Bihar State Electronics Devp. Corp., Beltron Bhawan, Shastri Nagar, Patna-3
Director, Information Technology, Dept. of IT, 5th Floor, Addl. Deluxe Building, Sector-9, Chandigarh
Chief Executive Officer, CHIPS office, IT & BioTech Department, Mantralaya, D.K.S. Bhawan, Raipur-492001
Director (IT) Room No. 207-208, Secretariat, Amli, Silvassa-396 230
Principal Home Secretary, Dèlhi Secretariat, IP Estate, New Delhi-11002
DCP, Economic Offences Wing, Crime Branch, Delhi Police
Secretary (IT), Dept. of IT, Secretariat Complex, Porvorim, Goa-403521
Principal Secretary Science & Tech. Dept.. Block - 7, 5th Floor, New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar- 382 010
Spl. Secretary, Secretariat for IT, 9th Floor, Haryana Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh
Director. Dept. of IT, STPI Building, Block-24, SDA Complex, Kasumpti, Shimla- 71009
Regional Dy. Director, Revenue & Land Reforms Department, Project Bhawan, Dhurva, Ranchi-834002
Project Officer. HRMS Project, Room No. 145-A, M.S. Building, Gate No. 2, Dr. В R Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore 560001
Principal Secretary, Information Technology Department, Central Secretariat, Trivandrum - 695 001
Director (Information Technology) Department of Information Technology, Administration of the UT of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti - 682 555
OSD, Department of Information Technology, Room No. 132, Vallabh Bhavan, Bhopal - 462 004
Jt. Commissioner of Police (Crime), Govt. of Maharashtra, Mumbai
Principal Informatics Officer, Dept. of Information & Comm. Technology, Govt. of Mizoram, Secrétariat Annex-l, Aizawl, Mizoram
Secretary IT&C, Nagaland Civil Secrétariat, Kohima - 797004
DGM. Orissa Computer Application Centre, OCAC Building, Plot N/1-7D, Acharya Nagar, PO-RRL. Bhubaneswar-751013
Director (IT), Directorate of IT, No. 505 Kamraj Salai, PRD Complex, Saram, Puducherry - 605 013
Director, Department of IT, SCO 193-95, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh
Additional Director, Dept. of IT & Communication, First Floor, Yojana Bhawan, Tilak Marg, Jaipur
Principal Secretary, Information Technology Department, Secrétariat, Chennai
Additional Director, Govt of Tripura, Directorate of IT, Indranagar, ITI Road, Agartala - 799 006
Special Secretary, IT & Electronics Dept., Bapu Bhawan, II Floor, No. 209, U.P. Admn. Lucknow
Uttra Portal Subject Specialist, ITDA, 93, Phase-II, Vasant Vihar, Dehradun
Executive Director (Technical), WBEIDC Ltd., Webel Bhawan, Block EP & GP, Salt lake, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/resources/arreply-to-rti-application-on-nodal-officers-from-deit

Reply to RTI Application on Blocking of website and Rule 419A of Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951

praskrishna — 2013-03-21T07:58:12Z

The Department of Telecommunications sent its reply to an RTI application from the Centre for Internet and Society. The application was sent on December 27, 2012 with reference to blocking of websites and Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951.

To
Shri Subodh Saxena
Central Public Information Officer (RTI)
Director (DS-II), Room No 1006, Sanchar Bhawan
Department of Télécommunications (DoT)
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi — 110001

Dear Sir,
Subject: Information on Website Blocking Requested under the Right to Information Act, 2005

1. Full Name of the Applicant: Centre for Internet & Society

2. Address of the Applicant

Mailing Address: Centre for Internet and Society
194, 2־C Cross,
Domlur Stage II,
Bangalore 560071

3. Details of the information required

It has come to our attention that Airtel Broadband Services ("Airtel") and Mahanagar Téléphoné Nigam Limited ("MTNL") have recently blocked access to a number of domain sites for all their users across the country. Airtel has blocked Fabulous Domains (http://www.fabulous.com/), BuyDomains (http://www.buvdomains.com/) and Sedo (http://sedo.co.uk/uk/home/welcome/). MTNL has blocked Sedo (http://sedo.co.uk/uk/home/welcQme/). Subscribers trying to access this website receive a message noting "This website/URL has been blocked until further notice either pursuant to Court orders or on the Directions issued by the Department of Télécommunications". In this regard, we request information on the following queries under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:

Does the Department have powers to require an Internet Service Provider to block a website? If so, please provide a citation of the statute under which power is granted to the Department, as well as the safeguards prescribed to be in accordance with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.
Did the Department order Airtel or MTNL to block any or all of the above mentioned websites? If so, please provide a copy of such order or orders. If not, what action, if at all, has been taken by the Department against Airtel and MTNL for blocking of websites?
Has the Department ever ordered the blocking of any website? If so, please provide a list of addresses of all the websites that have been ordered to be blocked.
Please provide use the present composition of the Committee constituted under rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951.
Please provide us the dates and copies of the minutes of all meetings held by the Committee constituted under rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951, and copies of all their recommendations.

4. Years to which the above requests pertain: 2012

5. Designation and address of the PIO from whom the information is required

Shri Subodh Saxena
Central Public Information Officer (RTI)
Director (DS-II), Room No 1006, Sanchar Bhawan
Department of Télécommunications (DoT)
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi — 110001

To the best of my belief, the détails sought for fall within your authority. Further, as provided under section 6(3) of the Right to Information Act ("RTI Act"), in case this application does not fall within your authority, I request you to transfer the same in the designated time (5 days) to the concerned authority and inform me of the same immediately.

Please provide me this information in electronic form, via the e-mail address provided above. This to certify that I, Smitha Krishna Prasad, am a citizen of India.

A fee of Rs. 10/- (Rupees Ten Only) has been made out in the form of a demand draft drawn in favour of "Pay and Accounts Officer (HQ), Department of Telecom" payable at New Delhi.

Date. Monday November 26,2012
Place: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Below is the reply received from the Department of Telecommunications for the above RTI application

Government of India
Department of Télécommunications
Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road. New Delhi -110 001
(DS-CelI)

No. DIR(DS-II)/RTI/2009																		Dated:ll/01/2013

To,
Centre for Internet and Society,
No. 194, 2-C Cross,
Domlur Stage II,
Bangalore - 560 071

This has reference to RTI application dated 27/12/2012 with reference to Blocking of website and Rule 419A of Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951

In this regard it is submitted that Internet Service licensees are to follow the provisions of Information Technology Act 2000 as amended from time to time. Under Information Technology Act 2000, "Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009" were notified on 27/10/2009.(Annexure) Aforesaid notified rules describes the "Designated Officer" for the purpose of issuing direction for blocking for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource under subsection (2) of Section 69(A) of the ACT. Wide Gazette Notification dated 20/01/2010 Group Coordinator , Cyber Law division, Department of Information Technology has been authorized and designated as "Designated Officer".

As per the directions of Group Coordinator, Cyber Law division, under Information Technology Act 2000, instructions for blocking/ unblocking of websites/URLs are issued to Internet Service Licensees.

As per the available information no instruction to Internet Service Providers has been issued for Blocking of http://www.fabulous.com/, http://www.buydomains.com/, http://sedo.co.uk/uk/home/welcome/ and http://sedo.co.uk/uk/home/welcome/ as mentioned in your RTI application.

Copies of Blocking order for which blocking instructions issued by DoT are not being provided are not provided as per Clause 16 of "Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009" which says "Strict confidentiality shall be maintained regarding all the requests and complaints received and actions taken thereof."
With reference to information (Para 4 & 5 of RTI Aplication ) on Rule 419A of Indian Telegraph Rule, 1951 , the RTI is being forwarded to Dir (AS-III) & CPIO, DoT for providing the information.
The appeal, it any, may be made before Shri Nitin Jain, DDG(DS) & Appellate Authority, Department of Télécommunications, Room No. 1201, Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, Nevy Delhi-110 001 within 30 days from the date of receipt of this letter.

Encl: As above
																							(Subodh Saxena) DIR (DS-II) 011-2303 6860 011-2335 9454

Copy to:

(I) Shri Rajiv Kumar, CPIO & Director (AS-III), DoT, New Delhi

NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 27th October, 2009

G.S.R. 781 (E). — In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (z) of sub-section (2) of section 87, read with sub-section (2) of section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 (21 of 2000), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:

Short title and commencement — (1) These rules may be called the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access and Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Definitions. — In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires. —
(a) "Act" means the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(b) "computer resource" means computer resource as defined in clause (k) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Act;
(c) "Designated Officer" means an officer designated as Designated Officer under rule 3;
(d) "Form" means a form appended to these rules;
(e) "intermediary" means an intermediary as defined in clause (w) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Act;
(f) "nodal officer" means the nodal officer designated as such under rule 4;
(g) "organisation" means
(i) Ministries or Departments of the Government of India;
(ii) State Governments and Union Territories;
(iii) Any agency of the Central Government, as may be notified in the Official Gazette, by the Central Government
(h) "request" means the request for blocking of access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource;
(i) "Review Committee" means the Review Committee constituted under rule 419A of Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951.
Designated Officer — The Central Government shall designate by notification in Official Gazette, an officer of the Central Government not below the rank of a Joint Secretary, as the "Designated Officer", for the purpose of issuing direction for blocking for access by the public any information generated, transmitted. received,, stored or hosted in any computer resource under sub-section (2) of section 69A of the Act.
Nodal officer or organisation.— Every organisation for the purpose of these rules, shall designate one of its officer as the Nodal Officer and shall intimate the same to the Central Government in the Department of Information Technology under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technotogy, Government of India and also publish the name of the said Nodal Officer on their website.
Direction by Designated Officer. — The Designated Officer may, on receipt of any request from the Nodal Officer of an organisation or a competent court, by order direct any Agency of the Government or intermediary to block for access by the public any information or part thereof generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource for any of the reasons specified in sub-section (1) of section 69A of the Act.
Forwarding of requests by organisation. — (1) Any person may send their complaint to the Nodal Officer of the concerned organisation for blocking of access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource:
Provided that any request other than the one from the Nodal Officer of the organisation shall be sent with the approval of the Chief Secretary of the concerned State or Union territory to the Designated Officer.
Provided further that in case a Union territory has no Chief Secretary, then, such request may be approved by the Adviser to the Administrator of that Union territory.
(2) The organisation shall examine the complaint received under sub-rule (1) to satisfy themselves about the need for taking of action in relation to the reasons enumerated in sub-section (1) of section 69A of the Act and after being satisfied, it shall send the request through its Nodal Officer to the Designated Officer in the format specified in the Form appended to these rules.
(3) The Designated Officer shall not entertain any complaint or request for blocking of information directly from any person.
(4) The request shall be in writing on the letter head of the respective organisation, complete in all respects and may be sent either by mail or by fax or by e-mail signed with electronic signature of the Nodal Officer.
Provided that in case the request is sent by fax or by e-mail which is not signed with electronic signature, the Nodal Officer shall provide a signed copy of the request so as to reach the Designated Officer within a period of three days of receipt of the request by such fax or e-mail.
(5) On receipt, each request shall be assigned a number along with the date and time of its receipt by the Designated Officer and he shall acknowledge the receipt thereof to the Nodal Officer within a period of twenty four hours of its receipt.
Committee for examinatlon of request.— The request along with the printed sample content of the alleged offending information or part thereof shall be examined by a committee consisting of the Designated Officer as its chairperson and representatives, not below the rank of Joint Secretary in Ministries of Law and Justice, Home Affairs. Information and Broadcasting and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team appointed under sub-section (1) of section 70B of the Act.
Examination of request.— (1) On receipt of request under rule 6, the Designated Officer shall make all reasonable efforts to identify the person or intermediary who has hosted the information or part thereof as well as the computer resource on which such information or part thereof is being hosted and where he is able to identify such person or intermediary and the computer resource hosting the informalion or part thereof which have been requested to be blocked for public access, he shall issue a notice by way of letters or fax or e-mail signed with electronic signatures to such person or intermediary in control of such computer resource to appear and submit their reply and clarifications, if any, before the committee referred to in rule 7, at a specified date and time, which shall not be less than forty-eight hours from the time of receipt of such notice by such person or intermediary.
(2) In case of non-appearance of such person or intermediary, who has been served with the notice under sub-rule (I), before the committee on such specified date and time, the committee shall give specific recommendation in writing with respect to the request received from the Nodal Officer, based on the information available with the committee.
(3) In case, such a person or intermediary, who has been served with the notice under sub-rule (1), is a foreign entity or body corporate as identified by the Designated Officer, notice shall be sent by way of letters or fax or e-mail signed with electronic signatures to such foreign entity or body corporate and any such foreign entity or body corporate shall respond to such a notice within the time specified therein, failing which the committee shall give specific recommendation in writing with respect to the request received from the Nodal Officer, based on the information available with the committee.
(4) The committee referred to in rule 7 shall examine the request and printed sample information and consider whether the request is covered within the scope of sub-section (1) of section 69A of the Act and that it is justifiable to block such information or part thereof and shall give specific recommendation in writing with respect to the request received from the Nodal Officer.
(5) The designated Officer shall submit the recommendation of the committee, in respect of the request for blocking of information along with the details sent by the Nodal Officer to the Secretary in the Department of Information Technology under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary, Department of Information Technology").
(6) The Designated Officer, on approval of the request by the Secretary, Department of Information Technology, shall direct any agency of the Government or the intermediary to block the offending information generaled, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in their computer resource for public access within time limit specified in the direction:
Provided that in case the request of the Nodal Officer is not approved by the Secretary, Department of Information Technology, the Designated Officer shall convey the same to such Nodal Officer.
Blocking of Information in cases of emergency.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in rules 7 and 8, the Designated Officer, in any case of emergency nature, for which no delay is acceptable, shall examine the request and printed sample information and consider whether the request is within the scope of sub-section (1) of section 69A of the Act and it is necessary or expedient and justifiable to block such information or part thereof and submit the request with specific recommendations in writing to Secretary, Department of Information Technology.
(2) In a case of emergency nature, tne Secretary. Department of Information Technology may, if he is satisfied that it is necessary or expedent and justifiable for blocking for public access of any information or part thereof through any computer resource and after recording reasons in writing as an interim measure issue such directions as he may consider necessary to such identified or identifiable persons or intermediary in control of such computer resource hosting such information or part thereof without giving him an opportunity of hearing.
(3) The Designated Officer, at ihe earliest but not later than forty-eight hours of issue of direction under sub-rule 2, shall bring the request before the committee referred to in rule 7 for its consideration and recommendation.
(4) On receipt of recommendations of committee, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, shall pass the final order as regard to approval of such request and in case the request for blocking is not approved by the Secretary. Department of Information Technology in his final order, the interim direction issued under sub-rule (2) shall be revoked and the person or intermediary in control of such information shall be accordingly directed to unblock the information for public access.
Process of order of court for blocking of Information — In case of an order from a competent court in India for blocking of any information or part thereof generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in a computer resource, the Designated Officer shall, immediately on receipt of certified copy of the court order, submit it to the Secretary, Department of Information Technology and initiate action as directed by the court.
Expeditious disposal of request - The request received from the Nodal Officer shall be decided expeditiously which in no case shall be more than seven working days from the date of receipt of the request.
Action for non-compliance of direction by Intermediary — In case the intermediary fails to comply with the direction issued to him under rule 9, the Designated Officer shall, with the prior approval of the Secretary, Department of Information Technology, initiate appropriate action as may be required to comply with the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 69A of the Act.
Intermediary to designate one person to receive and handle directions — (1) Every intermediary shall designate at least one person to receive and handle the directions for blocking of access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource under these rules.
(2) The designated person of the intermediary shall acknowledge receipt of the directions to the Designated Officer within two hours on receipt of the direction through acknowledgement letter or fax or e-mail signed with electronic signature.
Meeting of Review Commlttee — The Review Committee shall meet at least once in two months and record its findings whether the directions issued under these rules are in accordance with the provisions of sub-seclion (1) of section 69A of the Act and if is of the opinion that the directions are not in accordance with the provisions referred above, it may set aside the directions and issue order for unblocking of said information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in a computer resource for public access.
Maintenance of records by Designated Officer — The Designated Officer shall maintain complete record of the request received and action taken thereof, in electronic database and also in register of the cases of blocking for public access of the information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in a computer resource.
Requests and complaints to be confidential — Strict confidentiality shall be maintained regarding all the requests and complaints received and actions taken thereof.

FORM
(See rule 6(2))

A. Complaint

Name of the complainant: --_________________________________________________________________
(Person who has sent the complaint to the Ministry/Department/State Govt./Nodal Officer)
Address: ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________________________ Pin Code: __________________
Telephone: ________________________ (prefix STD code)
Fax (if any): _______________________
Mobile (if any): ______________________
Email (if any): __________________________________

B. Details of website/computer resource/intermediary/offending information hosted on the website
(Please give details wherever known)
URL / web address: ____________________________________
IP Address: _______________________________________
Hyperlink: ________________________________________
Server/Proxy Server address: ________________________________________
Name of the Intermediary: _________________________________________
URL of the Intermediary: __________________________________________
(Please attach screenshot/printout of the offending information)
Address or location of intermediary in case the intermediary is telecom service provider, network service provider, internet service provider, web-hosting service provider and cyber cafe or other form of intermediary for which information under points (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (12) are not available.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
C. Details of Request for blocking
Recommendations/Comments of the Ministry/State Govt: ________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
The level at which the comments/recommendation have been approved
(Please specify designation) ________________________________________________
Have the complaint been examined in Ministry / State Government: Y/N
If yes, under which of the following reasons it falls (please tick):
(i) Interest of sovereignty or integrity of India
(ii) Defence of India
(iii) Security of the State
(iv) Friendly relations with foreign states
(v) Public order
(vi) For preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to above
D. Details of the Nodal Officer, forwarding the complaint along with recommendation of the Ministry/State Govt. and related enclosures
Name of the Nodal Officer: ___________________________________________
Designation: ______________________________________________________
Organisation: _____________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________ _________

__________________________________________________________

City: __________________________ Pin Code: _________________
Telephone: ___________________________ (prefix STD code)
Fax (if any) _____________________
Mobile (if any) ______________________
Email (if any): ___________________________
E: Any other information:
F: Enclosures:

1.

2.

3.

Date Place Signature

[No. 9(16)J2004-EC]
N. RAVI SHANKER, Jt. Secy

3855GI/09-5

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/resources/reply-to-rti-application-on-blocking-of-website-and-rule-419a-of-indian-telegraph-rules-1951

Reply from MTNL to RTI Application

praskrishna — 2015-02-25T15:03:38Z

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/reply-from-mtnl-to-rti-application.pdf

RENEW: The 5th International Conference on the Histories of Media Art, Science and Technology

praskrishna — 2013-10-29T09:32:22Z

The 5th International Conference on the Histories of Media Art, Science and Technology – RENEW, is hosted by RIXC Centre for New Media Culture in Riga in partnership with the Art Academy of Latvia, Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and Danube University’s Center for Image Science. Following Banff 2005, Berlin 2007, Melbourne 2009 and Liverpool 2011, the Media Art History Boards and Renew Cochairs invite you to attend RENEW conference in Riga, October 8-11, 2013!

Nishant Shah was a part of the selection committee for the conference and chaired a session on Network Art on October 9.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/renew-intl-conference-histories-of-media-art-science-technology

Removing Barriers to Connectivity: Connecting the Unconnected

praskrishna — 2013-11-09T03:14:43Z

The workshop was organised by Internet Society and ETNO on October 23, 2013. Pranesh Prakash was a panelist.

Click to read the details on IGF website here

In the spirit of Paragraph 50 of the Tunis Agenda, our panel aims to highlight best practices that will help in “turning the digital divide into digital opportunity”, and will look at what can be done to promote broadband penetration and access to infrastructure. By forging better Internet governance environments through dialogue and interaction, stakeholders can work together to build better local infrastructure and more efficient deployment of infrastructure. Internet technical community experts, policy-makers, and development experts know well the challenges that exist in promoting deployment of Internet infrastructure. From public-works challenges to human capacity development, each country may have their own unique challenges. Provisions and policies must be put in place to ensure that broadband connections are developed, maintained and improved to sustain the rise in Internet traffic and particularly to accommodate the fast growth of video traffic. Against this backdrop, this workshop proposes to assemble a group of experts and practitioners to discuss observations from the field (practical examples and information) about how to help encourage connectivity and to “lift” barriers to connectivity. We also will identify barriers for investment faced by the private sector and tries to define ways to improve the policy landscape and identify a sustainable economic model to foster private investment. We plan to do this by identifying connectivity challenges and by identifying best practices for working with all stakeholders to manage those challenges. The developing country perspective will be reflected, and the workshop will specifically address what is needed in practical terms to connect the unconnected – eg low-cost devices, open systems and public / private partnerships. Workshop participants will engage the audience to encourage a dialogue that seeks feed-back from participants. An output of the workshop would be a collaborative “living” list of best practices and observations identified during the workshop that can serve as a baseline to be added to given national and local dynamics.

Panelists

Raj Singh, Internet Society, Male, Technical Community, SINGAPORE, Asia-Pacific Group
Martin Levy, Hurricane Electric, Male, Private Sector, UNITED STATES, Western Europe and Others Group - WEOG
Christoph Steck, Telefonica, S.A., Male, Private Sector, SPAIN, Western Europe and Others Group - WEOG
Jennifer Haroon, Google, Female, Private Sector, UNITED STATES, Western Europe and Others Group - WEOG
Simon Milner, Facebook, Male, Private Sector, UNITED KINGDOM, Western Europe and Others Group - WEOG
Pranesh Prakash, Centre for Internet & Society India, Male, Civil Society, INDIA, Asia-Pacific Group

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/igf-2013-removing-barriers-to-connectivity

Religious pluralism and freedom of expression in India, Europe and other countries

praskrishna — 2013-11-08T05:54:06Z

The Venice-Delhi Seminars are Reset-Dialogues on Civilizations project, in cooperation with the Jamia Millia Islamia, Seminar and the India Habitat Centre is organizing this event from October 10 to 12, 2013. Chinmayi Arun will be speaking at this event.

Click to read the full details published by Reset DOC on October 10, 2013.

This year, the Rome-based international association Reset-Dialogues on Civilizations will continue promoting dialogue between cultures and the culture of dialogue, reciprocal awareness between East and West and valorising the cultural, religious and political differences in a globalized world.

The schedule for autumn 2013 is as follows; the next Venice-Delhi Seminars will take place from October 10 to 12 in Delhi with the participation of the Indian magazine Seminar, and Jamia Millia Islamia, the Islamic University of Delhi and the India Habitat Centre. After the first meeting in the Indian capital in October 2010 on the subject “Minorities and Pluralism” (see Seminar 621, 2011) and a second meeting in Venice at the Giorgio Cini Foundation from October 18 to 20, 2012, dedicated to “Cultural differences in times of economic turbulence. Social tensions, cultural conflicts and policies of integration in Europe and India”, the Venice-Delhi Seminars have become a regular event, with one being held in Venice and the next in Delhi.

Pluralism

The project’s general framework is religious and cultural pluralism, seen through the perspective analysis of social and political processes and exchanges between East and West. Every encounter is an opportunity to deepen political, social and economic trends that run through society, like India’s and, increasingly, European society, where cultural, ethnic and political differences coexist and interact. Each meeting consists of five sessions lasting three days and papers presented by by experts and academics from all over the world attending roundtable discussions dedicated to the analysis of policies relating to minorities and the global challenge of the multi-ethnic composition of our societies.

The proceedings and more articles from our 2012 edition in Venice, Italy, are published in the September 2013 issue of Seminar magazine. You can visit its website here: www.india-seminar.com

10-12 October 2013 – Third Venice-Delhi Seminars
Coexistence and mutual respect, rights to be protected, freedom of speech and freedom of worship, blasphemy, the ethics of responsibility

The third Venice-Delhi Seminars will take place from October 10 to 12, 2013 in Delhi and will be dedicated to three days of study on the subject “Religious Pluralism and Freedom of Expression in India and Europe: Coexistence and Mutual Respect, Rights to Protect, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Worship, Blasphemy, Ethics of Responsibility”. The objective of this second round of the “Plural Future” project will be to critically examine the growing tension between the democratic need to protect differences and the right to freedom of expression and the vital need for modern democracies to guarantee peaceful coexistence between majorities and minorities, as well as freedom of worship in conditions of cultural and religious pluralism protected from the extremist excesses of demands based on ethnicity and identity. We will therefore also analyze the public visibility of radical and extremist tendencies from the United States to Europe, to Muslim-majority countries and India.

Analysis will take place from a perspective paying particular attention to the manner in which this wave of violent opposition to dialogue and cultural differences challenges liberal democratic order, tested by a new need to implement rights and respect of minorities. Specific importance will be attributed to conditions experienced by Muslim and Christian minorities. The subject of respect between communities and the rights of minorities will be analyzed also in the European context. European, Indian and American scholars will attend.

Particular attention will paid to the media in this 2013 edition, and its role in portraying cultural and religious differences as well as its capacity to encourage or prevent the development of peaceful co-existence and an acceptance of differences in conditions of cultural, religious and ethnic pluralism.

The Reset-Dialogues on Civilizations project has been organised also so as to involve a large number of students, graduates and doctoral students.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/resetdoc-october-10-2013-religious-pluralism-and-freedom-of-expression-in-india-europe-other-countries

Reliance Jio data leaked on website : report

praskrishna — 2017-07-10T14:53:42Z

Reliance Jio customer data was leaked on independent website magicapk.com, including details such as names, mobile numbers and email IDs , said a report.

The article was published by Livemint on July 10, 2017.

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd’s customer data was allegedly leaked on an independent website, magicapk.com, a report said. Jio, which crossed the 100 million mark in February, barely six months after it was launched, ended the financial year with 108.9 million subscribers as of 31 March.

The report, published first in a late-night article on Sunday on Fonearena.com, alleged that “several sensitive details” were exposed, including customers’ first and last names, mobile numbers, email IDs, circles, SIM activation dates and even the Aadhaar numbers. The Aadhaar numbers, however, were redacted on magicapk.

“To my disbelief I found my own details in the database and also couple of my colleagues are affected too,” wrote Varun Krish, the author of the article. However, if you now click on Magicapk.com, it reads: “This Account has been suspended .” The Registrar of the site, according to the whois database, is Godaddy.com, LLC.

When contacted, a Reliance Jio spokesperson said, “We have come across the unverified and unsubstantiated claims of the website and are investigating it. Prima facie, the data appears to be unauthentic. We want to assure our subscribers that their data is safe and maintained with highest security. Data is only shared with authorities as per their requirement. We have informed law enforcement agencies about the claims of the website and will follow through to ensure strict action is taken.”

Fonearena.com, on its site, has responded with a: “We still stand by our story.”

The report assumes significance because the site exposed redacted Aadhaar card details. There are nearly 1.2 billion Aadhaar number holders in the country. Aadhaar aims to plug leakages in the delivery of state benefits, such as subsidized grains to the poor, and aid in generating a savings of about Rs70,000 crore a year for the government. But data breaches have rattled citizens, especially since India does not have a Privacy Act.

In March, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) blacklisted a common services centre for 10 years after it shared the Aadhaar details of former cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. On 25 April, Mint reported that many government departments, including the ministry of drinking water and sanitation, the Jharkhand Directorate of Social Security, and the Kerala government’s pension department, had published Aadhaar numbers of beneficiaries of the schemes they run in violation of the Aadhaar Act .

On 1 May, Bengaluru-based think tank Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) reported that a Central government ministry and a state government may have made public up to 135 million Aadhaar numbers .

Under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the unique identity number is mandatory only to receive social welfare benefits. However, tagging of the Aadhaar number is being made mandatory by the government for various schemes including PAN (permanent account number) accounts for taxation. On 7 July, the Supreme Court refused to pass any interim order against the mandatory use of Aadhaar for various government schemes. It, instead, suggested that petitioners call for immediate formation of a Constitution bench to decide on the case .

News of the alleged data leak also comes at a time when there have been a spate of cyber hacks.

For instance, just when companies started believing that WannaCry—the malware that held over 200,000 individuals across 10,000 organizations in nearly 100 countries to ransom—was on the wane, a virus christened GoldenEye (a variant of the Petya ransomware) by security firm Bitdefender Labs attacked companies, mostly in Ukraine. And while the target primarily appeared to be European countries, the ransomware was also reported to be making inroads in countries like India.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/livemint-july-10-2017-reliance-jio-data-leaked-on-website-report

Relevance of Bhagabat Tungi in the evolution of Odia language from Buddha era to digital age

praskrishna — 2014-05-06T07:09:41Z

The Intellects, a Delhi based organisation of Odia intellectuals, and Shree Jagannath Mandir and Odisha Art and Cultural Center co-organized an event in New Delhi on April 20, 2014.

Subhashish Panigrahi participated in this event and gave a talk about "Re-modelling Bhagabata Tungi in the present context of a digital society". About 600 Odias attended the progremme, including Dr Anita Panda, Prof Saudamini Barik, Jayaram Samal, Indubhushan Lenka, Odia Radio founder Sitanshu Mohapatra, journalist Asit Ranjan Mishra, OdishaDiary (www.orissadiary.com) founder Prachee Naik, Rashmi Ranjan Parida, The Intellects members Sangram Dhar, Smrutidhara Rout, Anasuya Sahoo, Aditya Mohanty, Nirmal Dhal, Sanjaya Parida, Pankajamala Sarangi, Premanda Swain, lawyer Sanjeeb Kumar Mohanty and Tarun Samantray.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/relevance-of-bhagabat-tungi-in-evolution-of-odia-language

release

praskrishna — 2012-08-21T09:44:44Z

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Relative Fifty

praskrishna — 2014-04-22T10:24:17Z

Relative Fifty

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Relative

praskrishna — 2014-04-22T10:53:07Z

Relative

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Rejoinder to Annexure 8

praskrishna — 2015-11-21T07:39:26Z

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/rejoinder-to-annexure-8