Porn apart, users reveal Airtel, Jio blocking proxy sites, Telegram

Porn apart, hundreds of Indian internet users have reported that access to other sites like proxy sites, torrent sites, VPNs, and even the websites of messaging platform Telegram and audio-streaming platform SoundCloud have been blocked.

Most of these users who have reported blocked access are Reliance Jio users, while a chunk of the remaining users are Airtel users.

According to a list compiled by New Delhi-based advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), over 140 complaints have been received about blocked access to websites apart from porn websites.

Around 85 such complaints came from Reliance Jio users, while around 40 complaints were lodged by Airtel users.

Other ISPs that were mentioned in the list of complaints include BSNL, Vodafone, Hathaway, and ACT.

Many of these complaints have pointed out that censorship of such websites runs contrary to right to information.

Further, it has been argued that ISPs and telcos blocking websites also runs contrary to the principle of net neutrality that holds that internet providers must provide equal access to, and must treat all internet content equally.

As it stands, it is unclear why VPNs, proxy websites, and torrent websites have been blocked, but it's assumed that the aforementioned websites have been blocked as per government orders.

If that is indeed the case, it does come across since odd as the government's initial order to block porn websites did not mention the blocking of VPNs, proxy sites, Telegram or SoundCloud.