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20 May 2008
An Indian man is facing five years in jail for making an "offensive" comment after Google handed his personal data to local police.
Rahul Krishnakumar Vaid, a 22 year-old IT consultant, was arrested after posting derogatory comments on Google's Orkut social networking site.
Vaid was posting in a forum called 'I hate Soniya Gandhi' and was identified after the police asked Google to hand over his email address.
Vaid was arrested after a police raid on his house on Friday and has been charged with breaking section 292 of the Indian Penal Code and section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
If found guilty he faces a possible five years in prison as well as a fine.
The case highlights a curious facet of Indian law. The creator of the forum cannot be punished, since an individual's dislike is covered under personal freedom of choice. However, the information Vaid posted is classed as "vulgar", thus the arrest.
Vaid's arrest also highlights Google's increasingly tarnished reputation, despite its unofficial motto of 'Do no evil'.
The motto gained the company much kudos in the IT industry but, after Google's activities in China, many are now questioning its stance on human rights.
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Do you agree?
Who is Evil google or the person putting such comment
I dont understand ur logic in blaming Google for this. Obviously Google should cooperate with the local authorities given that the person who is behind this is clearly liable for consequences. Freedom of speech is different thing and spreading vulgarity and abuse is different
Posted by: SJ 23 May 2008
Now i'm too afraid to post any comment on the issue
Now i'm too afraid to post any comment on the issue....... But what so ever that 22 yr old guy sud not be punished for availing his freedom to express his openion....... And, Sonia should understand that the country wud not progress if intelect crowd of the country is pushed in the jail...... Bureaucracy, bend of indian law, foolisheness and misunderstanding at its peak.......
Posted by: vivek vishal 23 May 2008
Google was right
Criticism about somebody and something is absolutely fine as far as we dont cross that red line. Vaid was not just criticizing the lady but using foul language with which you wont like to call you mother or sister. Coming to public life does not mean that anyone can talk dirty about you. Public life is not prostitution.
Posted by: niyaz 23 May 2008
It doesn't matther whether she was Sonia Gandhi or any body else! Offense is Offense!
Making any vulgar comment about anyone on any public palce is really an offense. And it should be punished at any cost. Most of the people jealus Sonia Gandhi just because of she belongs to Italy and many time they make very bad comment about her in public. And this is not fare. Everybody has right to speak but this is also true that the person who you are talking about has right to take the action against you if you speak ill of the peson. Thats all.
Posted by: Zubair 23 May 2008
Eveteasing or Freedom of speech?
This is simply a case of eveteasing. Eveteasing is punishable by law.Google has only done what a college would do in the case of eveteasing/ragging - Cooperate with the police.
Posted by: Naveen 23 May 2008
Family tradition
Look at the history what happened to the smallest small critics. The family has the tradition not to accept any crticism right from Nehru to Indira to Sanjay and now Sonia for whatever they may do to this country which is yet to be relieved from their clutches.What is Bacchan family being slapped for every now and then? May be Bacchans done some vulgarity to the family. Anyways let the youth be punished for his vulgarity they may pardon him after visiting him in jail.
Posted by: Paresh Patel 22 May 2008
Sonia...take a break
Sonia...take a break.......go back to where u belong.....we promise we'll take care of ourselves.
Posted by: Vishnu Bhan 22 May 2008
Google hands over user information in India
I think google has breached individuals privacy & freedom. Shame on google !!
Posted by: rohit behl 22 May 2008
our country in rotten hands: where are we heading??
grow up people!!!if the indian police is jobless, and the govt has enuf n more money to waste on unnecessary harmful things when tht same amount given to a beggar cud have given him a months meal...wat is the govt doing?its worse than the british raj....u r not even allowed to speak free...ya but the people who commit serious crimes are defintly free.now come and arrest more youth.cook up unnecessary news.seriously man....India really needs its youth to save itself and remain happy. all fields are required.your email address will not be displayed on the site!!duh huh
Posted by: lits 22 May 2008
Google hands over
By the way what gives you a right to use foul language against a fellow citizen and your moral courage is at its low because you cannot use any public forum to air your views.It is the secrecy which gives you courage to assume the roles and express views about which you yourself are not sure. Is it your birth right to indulge in senseless criticism and mudslinging on the people who care to do something to society at large. Most of the populations wants to lead easy life without getting into rigours of service to felloow citizens but when it comes to write senseless writings plenty of spineless creatires que up. I think what Google has done is correct. You cannot support people who want to use a good platform to fill filth.
Posted by: satyadev 22 May 2008
I hope they dont come looking for me
Hi, If its unethical to post a comment about a public figure, I am ashamed! And till today I had a decent amount of respect for sonia.
Posted by: Catch me too 22 May 2008
Hail Corruptocracy
India would be a much much better place if she could have got rid of all her politicians, their cohorts, the bureaucrats and the police force. They are are like a cancer and should be got rid without any trace or will regroup and redevelop.
Posted by: A well wisher 22 May 2008
Freedom of Expression? My A** !!!
Well I really dont think 'Freedom of Expression' gives anyone the right to post/speak bulshit and nonsense about anyone they like. And especially being in an IT firm, I think he should have had that kind of a professionalism in him. He should have known that it's the most stupid(est) thing to do ! It's not about Sonia Gandhi here. I dont think anyone has the right to make a public statement about how cheap or bad a person is. Esp. just cuz u dont like that person! And who has to suffer? The country's youth and of all GOOGLE, because it provides us services by which we can socialize with the world ! And not indulge in doing Bulshit! I just wish people in India can behave a little more matured and understand the consequences of what they do. I always thought the youth will change India forever. But now it seems, it'll take a few more generations to clean this country! I seriously urge all of you to seriously think what "FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION" means ! And how sensitive this can be if not used in the proper way ! I hate politics too, but I will never blame the politicians for this. I will first blame myself! Because I am not doing enough for my country ! Open your eyes folks - even you are not doing anything other than earning at home !
Posted by: R Wangde 22 May 2008
India needs a refresh on the Law
As strange as it may sound, criticism or praise, Indian law just has to be revised to stop the suppression a citizens freedom of speech. This is not Saudi Arabia this is India. We invented civilization!! Well It is very clear that I am overwhelmed with emotions. India has a long history of suppression and murder of human rights. I hope we change ourselves and start behaving like we own our country.
Posted by: Gagan Adibhatla 22 May 2008
Google - Disappointing...!!
Well..Google this was really DISAPPOINTING on your behalf to do such a thingy.....Rahul frankly is innocent...making a SMALL comment in regards to freaking bombblasts in the country is really really NOT A MATTER TO WORRY about..n you HAD TO GIVE OUT HIS EMAIL ID...?? to such ppl..who really dont care for the lives of the ppl of this country but only for the corrupt politicians...???????? what..?? thats crazy man..!!! I am a total google FAN..why are u on ur way to diminish that feeling from billions of ppl..?? think about it ....!
Posted by: Anonymous 22 May 2008
Sonia Mania in Indiana..........I must say Sonia Phobhia....
This is worst kind of dynastic rule in India. Almost every establishment airport,forests,hospitals,educational insitutions are named after Gandhi family in India. Thanks to the so called sycophancy. Now Google goes one up in satisfying Sonia. No pun intended...Let Google be renamed as Google Sonia Search engine in India...
Posted by: Praveen 22 May 2008
Sonia Gandhi and Congress behaving like dictators
Sonia Gandhi is beginning to appear more and more like a dictator, to whom the public is supposed to bow and dip their heads, everytime she and her family passes by. Do we, Indians, now have a Saddam Hussien, Musharaff, Mao Tse tung, and Stalin in the making? Scary thought, that we are heading towards a dictatorship. Shame on Google! Because of its unethical, corporate-greedy hypocricy, we now have a 22 year old languishing in India's prison. I am never going to use google again! This is the final straw in helping me to decide!
Posted by: ppsee 21 May 2008
Sonia Gandhi can't take criticism
If people in public life can't take criticism then they should go some where else. Congress party is steeped in history and aristocracy , they treat their leaders as holier than thou. Shameful of the party to pursue such a petty matter. a 22 year old would be punished for his thoughts seems totally out of mind kind of a treatment. Don't catch terrorists but catch people online for posting their thoughts. Well done Congress party and well done Sonia Gandhi
Posted by: SK 21 May 2008
Removing google as my homepage
Not going to use google anymore
Posted by: ps 21 May 2008
What Can I say ? Personal Freedom Lost - Democracy, Freedom and Right to Opinion Destroyed!
Please do not hand over this caption to the Indian "democratic" authorities.
Posted by: armoredfish 21 May 2008