The government on Thursday said that internet companies 'would have to abide by India's laws' if they want to operate in the country. "We don't believe in censorship of any kind. India firmly believes in democracy and freedom of speech. But as the case is anywhere in the world, any company wishing to operate in a country, has to follow the law of the land," Telecom and IT Secretary R Chandrashekhar told reporters on the sidelines of the India Digital Summit, organised by Internet and Mobile Association of India, where Google was one of the main sponsors.

He was speaking on the issue of a sanction by Department of IT to prosecute websites such as Facebook and Google in a trial court over the issue of objectionable content.

"There has to be some mechanism (to control content). We have to find a technology solution to it," he added. He reiterated that companies have to follow the law of the land, and the issue won't impact investments in India's internet sector. India is now the third largest internet user base, with about 121 million users, after China and the US.

The sanction by India's Department of IT means that summons would be sent to the US-based internet companies, with the help of Ministry of External Affairs.

NK Kaul, Google India's lawyer, says that considering the vastness of internet, and billions of pieces of content being uploaded on the internet it is difficult to find a technology solution to pre-screen content. "Controlling internet is not in favor of India's democracy," he adds.

Meanwhile, a set of internet users came out in support of the US internet majors. Harsha Gupta, a Delhi-based educationist, who runs a school comprising 3,000 students, filed a plea on Wednesday asking the court, to hear him as an aggrieved user, in the case.

Counsel for Gupta, criminal and cyber lawyer Vivek Sood, said that blocking the internet with certain keywords will limit its educational abilities. "The sanction granted by the state to prosecute Google and Facebook, will directly affect the fundamental rights of the applicant and millions of users of Google and Facebook," Sood added.

Justice Suresh Cait, who is hearing the matter in the Delhi court, has adjourned the case, till February 2, 2012. (Economic Times)