Cops to approach CERT-In for blocking BBC docu from Internet

Delhi Police is in the process of approaching the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), an arm of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, to block the controversial BBC documentary on the Delhi gang rape from appearing anywhere on the Internet including video sharing websites like YouTube.
CERT-In is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify security-related defences of Indian Internet domain. It can block certain contents on request of government agencies if these are found offensive and likely to disrupt peace and harmony.
Despite the Indian Government's objection, BBC went ahead to release the documentary on Wednesday night in the UK and also uploaded it on YouTube. The documentary has since then gone viral on social media with multiple shares and is being widely discussed.

"We are writing to CERT-In to block the documentary from being available on Internet platforms. The process has been initiated," said a senior police official.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said their main concern is to ensure that the documentary is not broadcast and disseminated in the country and efforts are being made to block it from appearing on websites.
"...Our objective is that any assertion which transgresses the penal laws of the country that assertion should not be broadcast and disseminated, particularly as far as we are concerned within the country," he said.

"But we will take steps to stop its further dissemination to portals. Whatever is being required in this case is being done," he added.

Delhi Police had on Tuesday filed an FIR and secured a court order restraining the media from airing the documentary, as a whole or in parts, which contains the interview of a convict in the gang rape case, Mukesh Singh.
The move by Delhi Police comes against the backdrop of the government examining options on whether to take legal action against BBC after it aired the film in the UK despite objection. Meanwhile, BBC today conveyed to the government that it has no plans to telecast the film in India in compliance with the directive.