Government not for controls on internet: Sibal

The government is against controlling or governing the internet but wanted a consensus among stakeholders to deal with issues that might arise in future, agency reports quoted communications and IT minister Kapil Sibal as saying.

"There should be no formal government interference in the dissemination of information through a medium, which is perhaps quintessential representative of democracy. What we want is consensus and not a decision. Consensus, which will then be formalised through which we can deal in future," the report quoted Sibal as saying.

According to Sibal, some aspects of the internet were completely protected by freedom of speech but some aspects of it may not be protected by free speech.

With time, the nature of governance was changing in the same manner the definition of freedom was evolving, he said.

Expressing reservations on the title of the event, 'India Internet Governance Conference', at which he was speaking, he said quite frankly he did not like the word governance.

"You are having curtain raiser on India Internet Governance conference. I think we are starting on wrong foot," Sibal said.