Indian Government made social networking sites block 1,208 URLs in 2013

Government has so far this year asked social networking sites to block 1,208 web addresses, or uniform resource locator (URLs), parliament was informed on Wednesday.

Social networking sites were requested to block these web pages in order to comply with court orders, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said in a written reply to Lok sabha.

"social networking sites were requested to block 8,21,325 and 1208 URLs during 2010, 2011,2012 and 2013 , respectively to comply with the court orders, "he added.

That apart, 326, URLs were blocked in 2012, of which 312 URLs were blocked in a single instance at the time of exodus of North East People from different parts of the country, the Ministry said.

A total of 62 URLs have been blocked so far during the currently year, Sibal added.

Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 empowers government to block any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource in intrest of sovereignty and integrity of india, defence of India, Security of the state, friendly relations with foregin states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to the above, he added.