No mechanism to stop uploading of obscence contents: Govt to SC

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday raised its hands before the Supreme Court and conceded that as of now there is "no mechanism" to prevent uploading of obscene contents like videos of sexual violence on websites, before these are uploaded.

The submission came before a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit which asked "what is the stand of the government", after internet service provider Google said there cannot be a "reasonable prevention" before such contents are uploaded on websites.

"Today, there is no mechanism to prevent it before it is uploaded on the websites," the lawyer appearing for the Centre said, prompting the bench to ask, "why is there no such mechanism?"

Responding to the query, the government said, "somebody has to tell us about it (uploading of such contents). There are preventive mechanisms."

During the hearing, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Google India, said it was almost impossible to trace a person before he uploads such contents on websites. He, however, said if someone was a habitual offender and was uploading such contents repeatedly, Google can take action on it.

Singhvi said this while responding to a query by the bench, "How to prevent it (such contents) from being uploaded?"

Referring to the Centre's affidavit in the matter, the bench, which posted the matter for arguments on March 3, said the measures stated by the government "seems to be post facto".