By:Kavita Karki
Government of India ordered internet service providers to block 850 websites in response to an ongoing Supreme Court case. Very soon it came into action and we realized when the porn viewers couldn’t find their sleazy stuff on the popular Internet porn websites. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) did not inform the viewers that these sites have been blocked under the orders from the government. When online porn goes illegal in countries then certainly the announcement of the official ban is made. These sites have mysteriously vanished from the cyber space. It’s Unavailability without an official notification is a threat to personal liberty.

I personally don’t advocate porn (or the virtual to the real), but definitely stand for personal liberty. Article 21. Protection of Life and Personal Liberty states that No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

However, the government did this in a quite manner but made the ban possible even when the Supreme Court was reluctant to do so because of unjustifiable circumstances.

In the recent times we have seen many examples where our personal liberty has been jeopardize. The fate of Wendy Doniger’s, The Hindus: An Alternative History, leslee udwin’s: India’s daughter was similar. The pressure groups like the government, political parties, and cultural outfits with mob strength lead to such bans.

If the government wants to ban online porn it must come up with a policy and a piece of legislation, Chief Justice HL Dattu said that he couldn’t issue an interim ban on online porn because it would violate Article 21(personal liberty).

If we leave child pornography then there are no such scientific evidences which proof that the so-called sexual mire harms anyone. Some people do become addicted and seek pleasure in the virtual than the real.

Anti-porn sentiments are driven on moral grounds. The ban on online porn is moral than logical. It reflects Government’s tendency to overlook the real underlying issues that encourage and perpetuate chauvinism, violence against women and exploitation of girls and women. The idea of blinding porn viewers with morality and authority, rather than right policy and application, is dictatorship.

And if we talk on moral grounds then what about all those centuries old temple sculptures depicting sex? Even by the worst online porn standards they are vulgar and celebrate unnatural sex and depravity. Casted in stones, they are permanent exhibits in renowned temples of the country. Will the government even turn these sculptures down? Those who oppose several art pieces at numerous times, won’t they come forward for this? Why there is such a big furore around porn when there has always been an openness regarding sex in our Indian history.

Does it really matter if the government bans online porn? People who can’t live without it will easily find shrewd alternatives. Moreover, a ban can raise cyber-crimes, morphing, mms scandals and crime against women. Any blocked website can be accessed easily!   Thailand: a country where the police blocks porn sites because this is immoral and against their culture. But Bangkok is the sex capital of the world and hub for women trafficking into sex trade.
It’s upon us to decide do we really want to go the Thai way! Even when Kama sutra belongs to our culture and history!  As experienced by the Thai authorities ban was easy but it could not stop exploitative sex and trafficking.