Information Society Watch

March 27, 2007, Koride Mahesh, Times of India

The Indian government's Information Technology Act, 2000 (Central Act) still needs to pass through the Cabinet and then the Assembly, but it proposes the radical monitoring of children's use of Internet cafes, barring entry for those below 12 years unless accompanied by an adult as well as prohibiting use during school hours and between 10 pm and 6 am. These rules have been developed through the collaboration of the IT department and the Cyber Crime Police. Further rules would include the mandatory showing of photo ID at cyber cafes, obligatory logs of customer details, cubicles made of transparent material to deter questionable behaviour, provision of software to block pornographic or terrorist sites as well as recording details of sites browsed. Furthermore, police would have the right to enter the premises at any time and seize material. In case of violations, cafe owners may have to pay Rs 25,000.

Click here for the complete article