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Our govt encourages social media activism, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

In an interview with dna's Amita Shah, Prasad said his government encouraged social media activism, refuted that debates on moral policing dominated discourse in BJP- led regimes and said the government will take a view on the DoT panel recommendations, favouring to protect telecom firms over messaging apps, after seeing the TRAI report.

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In an indication that the government was reluctant to make laws for regulating social media, information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the issue needed wider consultation and a 'well reasoned' judgement. The Supreme Court had recently said there was need for a law to regulate social media to curb malicious and defamatory messages. The court expressed concern over misuse of social media and internet, particularly after the contentious section 66A of the Information Technology Act was scrapped.

In an interview with dna's Amita Shah, Prasad said his government encouraged social media activism, refuted that debates on moral policing dominated discourse in BJP- led regimes and said the government will take a view on the DoT panel recommendations, favouring to protect telecom firms over messaging apps, after seeing the TRAI report.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. As IT minister how far do you feel should government step in to regulate?
A. The government will lay down policy of fair competition which is for growth and development. We are doing that. I am encouraging electronic manufacturing in a big way. Foxconn agreed to come to India. On issues of national security, terrorism and communal issues, the security apparatus has to be active so that terrorists may not abuse this fine creation of the human mind which include IT, Internet and other allied services. Apart from security issues, our government is fully supportive of freedom on social media. In fact, our government engages people through social media.

Q. The Supreme Court has asked govt to make laws to regulate social media. How do you propose to go about it?
A. This is an issue of wider consultation and debate. Maybe there is a case for a well reasoned judgement. Our government encourages social media activism.

Q. You unbanned porn sites barring child pornography. What made you ban them in the first place?
A. The whole thing started on observation of the court. I took a call for barring only child pornography sites.

Q. But why ban in the first place?
A. The list was given by the petitioner. We are not into moral policing and we don't want to reach everyone's bedroom.

Q. Why is it that in BJP regimes controversies over moral policing dominate the discourse?
A. This allegation is false and has elements of bias on part of the media. What happened in West Bengal over the cartoon banning controversy and in Tamil Nadu? The Prime Minister has been victim of a sinister campaign for 16 years. We respect free media.

Q. You had said that the government will ensure net neutrality. Yet, people were given only 24 hours to give their comments on it....
A. I have told Parliament government was committed to the fundamental principle of non-discriminatory access. I am awaiting the TRAI report.

Q. A DoT panel on net neutrality has favoured telecoms over messaging apps....
A. It's a DoT panel, not government. The government will take a view after seeing the TRAI report.

Q. There is a raging debate over health hazards of radiation sent from my iPad
A. Why is there no such campaign US, Europe or China. If someone is willing to show me unmotivated tangible evidence that radiation emitted is harmful, I am ready to look into the matter inspite of the WHO report and so many court judgements.

Q. The Prime Minister has spoken of start ups...
A. Start ups signify innovation, recognition of entrepreneurship and basically the Prime Minister seeking to foster these twin qualities in the country in a way I see it as an extension of made in India, skill India, skill India, digital India, start up India. India's young people are innovative, they need a platform and encouragement. This is part of that process.

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