The URLs were allegedly blocked in India by the Department of Telecom. Arvind Gupta, a national head of the ruling BJP, claims that the websites in question were being used by ISIS to spread anti-India rhetoric.
Getty Images / ROB ELLIOTT
A circular being shared widely on social media suggests that all Indian internet providers were instructed by the Department of Telecom to block access to a list of 32 URLs, including Vimeo, Dailymotion, Github, and Archive.org.
The circular, dated December 17, cites Section 69A of the Information Technology Act (2000) as the reason for the blocks. The section in question empowers India's central and state governments to intercept and monitor information generated, transmitted or stored digitally if it is "necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence."
While the authenticity of the circular has yet to be verified, several Indian internet users took to social media to complain about their inability to access the websites listed on it.
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