VLC Media Player is one of the most popular apps when it comes to video streaming. Anyone who used a PC in the 1990s or early 2000s knows how popular the VLC media player was when it came to watching movies and TV shows. However, it appears that the VLC media player website has been banned in India, and the ban appears to have been in effect since March of this year, according to an earlier report from Medianama.
But what is the reason why the site was banned? Well, a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by the Internet Freedom Foundation shows that no one knows what the reason for the ban is. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) tweeted that it had filed the RTI in June with the telecommunications department regarding the website ban. DOT transferred the request to Meity or the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology. Meity’s response on July 14 was that “No information is available [with MeitY]”.
Check out the IFF thread below
On 07 June 2022 we filed an application for the right to information with @DoT_India look for information on blocking the VideoLAN website[dot]org in India. DoT moved it to @GoI_MeitYwho then replied on 14 July that “No information is available [with MeitY]”(1/4) https://t.co/usQHOmaJdW
– Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) August 14, 2022
In our question, we looked for information on why videolan[dot]org was blocked for access in India and provided listening opportunities to website owners before the website was blocked for access in India. (2/4) https://t.co/W0tLeiCrMO
– Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) August 14, 2022
However, in their single line answer, @GoI_MeitY he simply stated that he did not have such information. We filed the first appeal on this answer, arguing that it is illegal and demonstrates the non-application of the mind. (3/4) https://t.co/nz3KCtABBc
– Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) August 14, 2022
According to IFF’s tweets, “they searched for information based on videolan[dot]org was blocked for access in India and if listening opportunities were provided to the website owners before the website was blocked for access in India. “However, all they got was a response from a single line that Meity has no such information.
The IFF added in its tweet that “it has filed the first appeal on this answer, arguing that it is illegal and demonstrates the non-application of the mind”.
Indianexpress has contacted IFF for further statements on the ban on the VLC media player. All we know right now is that the website cannot be accessed. You can still download the app from the App Store or the Google Play Store. And if you have the reader installed on your laptop, it should work fine.
The official Twitter account of VLC Media player also tweeted about the ban, asking for help and seems to be equally unaware of the reason for this ban. Hopefully, there is some clarity as to why the website is not accessible in India.