Is India’s internet becoming more like China’s?

About this episode

The episode discusses India's proposed internet regulations and their comparison to China's censorship practices.

India and China have long taken very different approaches to controlling the internet. But is that gap starting to narrow? India’s government is proposing new rules that could bring bloggers, influencers and online creators under regulations similar to those governing traditional broadcasters. Officials say it’s about accountability, but critics worry it could limit free expression and political speech online. So how far could these changes go? And how do they compare to China’s highly controlled internet? In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC Hindi journalist Umang Poddar in Delhi and Tom Nunlist from Trivium China in Shanghai to break down what India’s proposed rules actually mean, how creators are reacting, and how China built one of the world’s most sophisticated censorship systems. Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the Asia Pacific region - an economic powerhouse, geopolitical flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends. Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between…

People in this episode

Host: Mariko Oi

Guests: Umang Poddar, Tom Nunlist

Topics covered

• internet regulation
• freedom of expression
• censorship
• India
• China
• online creators
• political speech

Keywords

• internet
• regulations
• bloggers
• influencers
• censorship
• free expression
• political speech
• India
• China

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Hindi, Trivium China

Places: India, China, Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore

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