Web firms told to remove content

US firms Facebook, Google and Yahoo as well as other internet companies have been ordered by two Indian courts to remove material considered religiously offensive, the latest skirmish in a growing battle over website content in the world’s largest democracy.

One court in the capital Delhi yesterday issued summons to 19 companies to stand trial for offences relating to distributing obscene material to minors, after being shown images it said were offensive to Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the PTI news agency reported.

“The accused in connivance with each other and other unknown persons are selling, publicly exhibiting and have put into circulation obscene, lascivious content, metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar said yesterday in the PTI report.