India has threatened to take action against global internet groups, including Facebook, Google and Twitter, after they refused to remove disparaging and politically inflammatory material from their online platforms.
"[We have noticed] certain images, statements, on the platforms of Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and the like, the subject matter of which was so offensive that it would hurt the religious sentiments of large sections of communities in this country," Minister of Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal said at a press conference in the courtyard of his New Delhi home.
"What we will do about this is something we will discuss within the ministry and ensure that in time to come this kind of material should not be allowed and should be disabled as and when it's brought to our notice," Mr. Sibal told reporters.
"We recognize the government's interest in minimizing the amount of abusive content that is available online and will continue to engage with the Indian authorities as they debate this important issue," Facebook said in a statement.
