21 May 2012 | Asia and Pacific, Digital Freedom, Index Index, minipost
Hacktivists have targeted two Indian government websites, as discussions of internet regulation took place in parliament. The websites of India’s apex court and the ruling Congress party were hacked in an apparent protest against the censorship of some websites by the Indian government. Hacking group Anonymous, who have protested the closures of video sharing websites Pirate Bay and Vimeo, are believed to have been involved in the attacks. Shortly before the websites became unavailable, Anonymous Central Twitter account read: “Namaste #India, your time has come to trash the current government and install a new one. Good luck.”
17 Apr 2012 | Academic Freedom, Asia and Pacific, Index Index, minipost
A university protester has been arrested for allegedly spreading derogatory cartoons against “respectable persons” in India. Ambikesh Mahapatra, a chemistry professor at Jadavpur University in Bengal, was arrested on Friday (13 April) for forwarding the cartoons of Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee to a number of recipients, and mocking local government policies. The professor has been charged with cyber crime offences.
11 Apr 2012 | Asia and Pacific, Index Index, minipost
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has given Indian security forces access to private instant messages. The move follows the setting up of a BlackBerry service centre in Mumbai last February, with official sources reporting that the interception of BlackBerry’s messenger service (BBM) messages will be used in cases where criminal activity is suspected. Law enforcement agents must first seek gain permission from the Home Ministry, before sending a request to the suspect’s operator or RIM for the data it needs. RIM has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
7 Mar 2012 | Asia and Pacific, Index Index, minipost
Around 100 journalists were attacked by a large crowd in India yesterday, whilst covering local elections in northern state Uttar Pradesh. The journalists were forced to lock themselves in a school, which was being used as an election centre, after clashes broke out between supporters of the parties involved in the election. The crowd of approximately 4,000 turned on the journalists on the evening of the election, after the results had been announced. They were assaulted, and their equipment and vehicles were damaged by the crowd. The journalists were able to leave the school early on Wednesday morning.
