The Indian government had directed Internet Service Providers to block 827 websites that hosted pornographic content in 2018 even as monitoring harmful websites is a continuous process, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) said Wednesday.

In 2018, Government directed Internet Service Providers to block 827 websites that hosted pornographic content, following an order by the Uttarakhand High Court,” junior Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar submitted in a written reply in Lok Sabha (Lower House).

The Minister further added as far as adult films were concerned, the Central Board of Film Certification, a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, regulates public exhibition of films, including adult films, under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, to ensure good and healthy entertainment.

However, he clarified that his Ministry did not collect details of Internet traffic or maintain information regarding adult films.

Chandrasekhar was replying to a query from a fellow parliamentarian on the present stand of the government with regard to adult films and pornographic content and whether there was a decline in the internet traffic relating to pornographic websites in the country.

Chandrasekhar assured his parliamentary colleague that the policies of the government are aimed at ensuring an Open, Safe and Trusted and Accountable internet for its users even as the number of Indians exposed to content on the Internet has grown.

“The many challenges in securing cyberspace also flow from its vastness and borderless nature. With regard to pornographic content/websites, it is informed that the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) penalises publishing or transmission of material containing sexually explicit act in electronic form (section 67A and 67B) and publishing or transmitting of obscene material in electronic form (section 67), and makes them punishable with imprisonment for a period that may extend to three and five years respectively, and as per section 77B such cybercrimes are cognizable offences,” Chandrasekhar, a former tech entrepreneur, said.

Government has from time to time blocked websites containing child sexual abuse material, based on lists from Interpol received through the Central Bureau of Investigation, India’s national nodal agency for Interpol, the Minister said.