Search engines to block ads on sex determination

Search engines Google, Yahoo and Microsoft on Monday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that they have developed a system to block advertisements on sex determination online.

Appearing for the Centre, solicitor general Ranjit Kumar told the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that he has been apprised on Monday about the "proposed list of words" that would be "auto-blocked" by these engines.

If someone searches for these words, the sites would give a warning and nothing would be reflected on the internet, as it is prohibited in India, he said.

The companies told the court that they will comply with the provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques

Act as the Indian law prohibits pre-natal sex determination. They have identified 22 key words, including "sex determination" that will be harder to search.

Petitioner Sebu George Mathew petitioner had moved the court, alleging that online search engines displaying ads of sex determination kits was a violation of laws in India.

The PCPNDT Act was brought in to stop female foeticide and arrest the declining sex ratio in India. Under this Act, gender selection is prohibited. After the court's direction, the Centre held a meeting with the search engine giants.

Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, counsel for the petitioner, pointed out that there are agencies which still publish advertisements.