Earlier this year, the Indian government disabled VLC Media Player’s website, claiming that the programme was connecting with the server of a previously prohibited app and transmitting user data to a ‘hostile nation.’ The block on VLC Media Player’s website appears to have been lifted.
Many Indian users were unable to access the website or download the application onto their PCs. The VLC mobile applications continued to function normally. Last month, VideoLan addressed a legal notification to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecom, asking why the site had been blocked throughout the country and requesting a copy of the blocking order.
The ban was apparently issued by the Home Ministry in accordance with Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act. However, it was prohibited without prior notice, which allegedly violates the 2009 Blocking Rules in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India. In June, the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) filed an RTI with the Department of Telecom, asking why the website had been restricted.
Soon after, the Department of Transportation forwarded the request to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The official Twitter account for VLC Media Player also posted that the prohibition has been lifted. Most Indian users may now access the website.
