- Police seek government data logs after Reuters story on fake court orders
The findings have raised questions about safeguards in India’s content-takedown system and prompted concerns that legitimate websites could be blocked using falsified court documents. * Fake court orders led to blocking directions for 129 betting websites, Reuters reported BENGALURU, – India has launched an inquiry into how telecoms officials blocked websites based on forged court orders disclosed by Reuters, while police have sought ministry records as part of a criminal investigation, officials said on Thursday.
The telecoms ministry’s inquiry will review its procedures and consider additional checks before officials act on court orders seeking website takedowns, a government official with direct knowledge of the matter said. Police opened a criminal investigation after checks by the Allahabad High Court found that one of the purported orders in its name cited by the ministry had not been issued by the court, according to police documents reviewed by Reuters.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION The case comes amid growing concern over fake and AI-generated legal material. India’s Supreme Court in July struck down a tribunal ruling that relied on non-existent judgments, while a US judge in June disqualified lawyers over fabricated legal citations.
