-The Business Standard IT laws have clauses that can be too easily misused The arrest of two women in Palghar (near Mumbai) for an innocuous Facebook status update is the latest indicator of an increasing intolerance of free speech, especially online. The state has also increased its surveillance. The focus on surveillance and censorship is evident not only in specific instances but also in the statistics. In February, the government said...

-The Hindu Mumbai: Two young women were arrested here on Monday on charges of “promoting enmity between classes” and “sending offensive messages through [a] communication service,” after one posted, and the other ‘liked,’ a message on Facebook on Sunday, questioning the Mumbai bandh that followed Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray’s death. Both of them were released on bail by a local court on Monday afternoon. “With all respect, every day, thousands of...

-The Times of India Maharashtra Police today arrested nine people from Palghar for vandalizing a clinic, after the niece of the clinic owner posted a comment on Facebook questioning the shutdown in the wake of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's death. Two girls — Shaheen Dhada and Renu — were arrested over their post opposing the Mumbai shutdown but were granted bail after they furnished personal bonds, police said. "So far, we have...

-IANS LUCKNOW: A city lawyer and social activist on Sunday lodged a first information report (FIR) against popular social networking site Facebook, after his profile was blocked. The report was filed at the 'cyber crime cell' of the Lucknow police by Prince Lenin, a resident of Hussainganj here. In his complaint, Lenin alleged that although he had long been a user of Facebook, his profile was recently blocked by the site without so...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: Police on Sunday arrested a 21-year-old girl for questioning the total shutdown in the city for Bal Thackeray's funeral on her Facebook account. Another girl who 'liked' the comment was also arrested. The duo were booked under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments) and Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Though the girl withdrew her comment and apologized, a mob of...