India Is Trying To Ban Porn Again, Access Blocked To Over 800 Adult Sites

Unabashedly spoken about by men, unfortunately discussed in hushed tones among women, maybe not an acceptable topic for dinner table conversation yet, but porn is very much a part of an Indian adult’s life. After Reliance Jio banned users from accessing porn sites on October 26, 2018, leading service providers across the country are following suit. These bans are a result of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) ordering Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block 827 adult websites in the country that host pornographic content. “All the Internet service licensees are instructed to take immediate necessary action for blocking of 827 websites as per the direction from MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and IT) and for the compliance of the Hon’ble High Court order,” stated the order. ISPs such as Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, and BSNL already have or are likely to block access to the above mentioned portals in the near future.

The ban falls in the purview of the aftermath of Uttrakhand High Court’s judgement that was passed on September 28, 2018. According to the judgement the need to regulate access to adult content and block pornographic websites is a step to shield the country’s technologically savvy and ‘impressionable’ youth.

This is not the first time the government has attempted to ban pornographic websites in the country. In 2015, the Department of Telecommunications ordered to block 857 porn websites. However, after receiving immense criticism the ban was partially lifted and no monumental actions were taken and porn sites continued to function normally. India is not the only country regulating access to adult content with China having banned over 22,000 pornographic websites as of September, 2018.

With some understandably outraged internet users expressing concerns over social media platforms such as Reddit and Twitter, others have resorted to humourous and rather creative ways of letting their displeasure known — through memes and Gifs (while using the hashtag #pornban).

Still in the midst of being implemented, this ban is already being challenged by portals such as Pornhub that have adopted strategies to work around this ban by changing their web addresses.

If you liked this article we suggest you read:

Indian Men Reveal How Watching Porn Changed Their Sex Lives

We Spoke To Indian Women About Their Relationship With Sex Toys

Five Young Indian Women Get Real About Masturbation