The Internet has evolved to become an increasingly important platform not just for economic development, but also as a support for advocates who wish to express their opinion freely and to work toward the development of democracy. The medium has provided opportunities for citizens to participate in forums, and to discuss and debate issues that concern them. Unlike other media where the information flow is unidirectional - from the government to the masses - the Internet allowed a multi-way communication process giving the chance for anybody to air their opinions and views on issues affecting them.

The development of the Internet has lead to more horizontal and less vertical communication. Control and censorship has a substantial effect on the Internet because it undermines confidence and trust in the medium and inhibits crucial flows of data.

The discussion groups which originated on the principles of free speech are also increasingly being subjected to control and censorship. Remember the recent attempt by the Indian Government to block a Yahoo discussion group on the Web. It turned out to be a clumsily executed affair because the Internet Service Providers went beyond the targeted blocking they were asked to do. And it achieved the opposite of what it set out to do because it sent the curious rushing to a little-visited discussion group. Despite being blocked, the page could be accessed through an anonymizer site on the Net whose express purpose is to allow people to circumvent blocks.

There evolved a new generation of “moderated” discussion groups where the morality police carried out their own brand of censorship.

Is this group becoming one of those?

A Christmas greeting sent to this group was censored and was not published. This was reportedly done to avoid hurting the feelings of “Christian Community”. !!!!!????? Excuse me? What’s happening?

The only feelings that would have been hurt by the said greeting would have been those of Rumsfeld and Bush.

The attempt was to remind every one the message of Christmas – “Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men!” and the irony of all of us celebrating Christmas when in another part of the world such atrocities continue by the so called Crusaders of the West!

Strong protest is hereby registered against such unilateral censorship being imposed on this “should have been free” forum of enlightened engineers. Sic!