India Probes Website Blocks Based on Fake Court Orders
India has launched an inquiry into how telecom officials ordered the blocking of 129 betting websites based on forged court orders. The investigation follows a Reuters report revealing that alleged fraudsters posed as lawyers and emailed fake orders issued in the names of the Rajasthan and Allahabad High Courts to government officials.
The Telecom Ministry is reviewing its website-blocking procedures and considering additional verification measures before acting on court orders. A government official said the ministry plans to revoke the blocking directives issued using the forged documents and remove related records from its website. The incident has raised concerns that genuine websites could also be wrongfully blocked through similar fraudulent submissions.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh police have launched a criminal investigation and requested government records, including content management system details and digital logs, to trace how the fake orders were processed. Cybercrime officials have sent 24 questions to the ministry to identify those responsible. The incident has also triggered calls from politicians and activists for stronger verification of court documents before enforcing website restrictions.
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