He said while India is known for its “freewheeling” democracy and “boisterous” political debate, a Google search of ‘India Internet censorship‘ generates thousands of hits documenting episodes in recent years of government authorities demanding the closure of websites or dispatching law enforcement officials to intimidate people for posted material deemed to be objectionable.
“These actions are often well-intentioned especially when they are aimed at suppressing ethnic violence. In general though, such policies are misguided and inimical to India’s broader national interests.”
“… But trying to control what people say is a losing proposition. It is much better to let good speech overwhelm bad speech, using the kinds of principles that have worked reasonably well on the free and open internet we enjoy in the US and other developed countries,” he said.
Given the progress made by India over the past decade, it is “hard not to be optimistic” about the next 10 years.
“Global success and a vast improvement in living conditions for hundreds of millions of its citizens are within the country’s grasp but only if India’s leaders invest in the right infrastructure and embrace the transparency and openness of the internet,” he said.
- Eric Schmidt
- Internet censorship in India
- India Internet censorship
- internet transparency
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