Orkut (Google) to get notice for showing Indian flag burning

Aurangabad: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to issue notice to Google for alleged spread of hatred about India by its social network service `Orkut’.

The order was issued by Justice A P Deshpande and Justice R M Borde yesterday in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by local advocate Yugant R Marlapalle.

A picture of burning national tri-colour, bearing anti-india message, has been put on www.Orkut.Com and a community �We Hate India� has been created on the site, the petition said.

The petition has also appealed to the government to appoint a `controller’ under the Information Technology Act, 2000, to regulate all such communities being in operation on the internet.

Orkut is an online community that conects people through a network of friends. The website is providing an online meeting place to socialise, make new acquaintances and find others with common interests.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled after six weeks.

Reacting to the High Court order, a Google spokesperson said: �Orkut is not based in India. It’s an open community. However, as its owner, we govern the community with our ‘terms of service’ which strictly prohibit `hate speech’ and ‘violence’ among other things. Orkut is a community of ‘trusted’ users since only those who are invited can join it. Besides, it has standards and tools whereby users can report news as bogus. We also heavily rely on users to report such acts. In this case, Google will review and take appropriate action (removal in this case).�

Link of Orkut community:
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=14773994

> See the controversial image
Disclaimer – This image is kept here for the readers who do not have access to orkut. There is no intention of hurting sentiments of anyone. Please click on link only if you wish to see the image.