An Indian government minister has met with officials from Facebook, Google and other Internet giants and demanded they keep derogatory material about the country's leaders off their websites, according to media reports Tuesday. Kapil Sibal, India's telecommunications minister, reportedly asked the Internet companies to have employees prescreen content before it is posted to ensure it is not offensive. He specifically referred to posts insulting PM Manmohan Singh, ruling Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi and major religious figures, according to the reports. Microsoft and Yahoo officials were also reportedly at the meeting. One person with knowledge of the meeting told AP that the demand was sparked by a Facebook page about Sonia Gandhi. The person spoke on condition of anonymity. Facing criticism over the meeting, Sibal said the government was not trying to strong-arm the companies. “The Indian government does not believe in censorship,” he was quoted as telling the Times of India.
