10-Feb-2023: MeitY issued orders to ban 138 online betting platforms and 94 money lending apps

The Indian government has instructed the blocking of 138 online betting platforms and 94 money lending apps due to alleged links to China and containing content that is "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India."

Many of these apps have been the subject of complaints of extortion and harassment, as borrowers were charged exorbitant interest rates for small loans over the past three years.

Section 69A

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act of 2000 has become a hotly debated topic in recent years. It is a provision that allows the government to block websites and social media content that it deems objectionable. This provision was first introduced in 2008 and has been used multiple times to censor content on the internet.

Section 69A of the IT Act empowers the government to block public access to any online information that is deemed to be a threat to the country's sovereignty, integrity, defense, security, and public order. The provision allows the government to order intermediaries, such as internet service providers, to remove or block access to content that it deems offensive, without the need for a court order. The government can also order intermediaries to preserve electronic records related to the content that has been removed or blocked.