The Hindu Business Line : Will cyber sex too come under scanner?

THE Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been grappling with the challenge that surrogate liquor ads, vulgar music videos and promos of adult films on general entertainment channels pose to the country's moral values. It may soon have to add cyber dating and cyber flirting to its overflowing plate.

The emergence of `chat rooms' promoting flirting, dating and `friendship with the opposite sex', on a whole lot of popular Web sites to attract more traffic is a relatively new phenomenon.

You have Rediff.com promoting `anonymous and free flirting with interesting girls and guys' on its home page, and others such as msn.com offering a package of online dating, complete with the option of sending `virtual kisses', among others.

Sify.com provides sections such as a `lover's lane' to whisper sweet nothings, and a `flirt centre' for people looking for love. Hotmail.com also provides links to udate.com, which calls itself `the Number 1 online romance and relationship site for those 25 years and above'.

The advertising industry is of the opinion that such links only cater to the target audience that the Web sites are trying to attract. "Web sites attract mainly the English speaking, young, college-going persons," said Sanjay Bhutiani, General Manager, Leo Entertainment.

According to Emmanuel Upputuru, Associate Creative Director, O&M, Delhi, "Services such as these are like any other product in the market, just like alcohol and cigarettes. Some people like it, some people don't." A Rediff.com spokesperson said, "Rediff.com is one of the premier worldwide online provider of news, information, communication, entertainment and shopping services for Indians. All these services are offered on the Rediff.com home page since it is a gateway page for users to come and surf across a range of services. Rediff offers two services in dating, one on the mobile platform which is called Rediff Flirting and on the web platform, called Rediff Matchmaker."

And yes, both the Rediff and Sify officials said that these links generate revenue. "Rediff Flirting and Rediff Matchmaker are revenue generators," said a Rediff spokesperson.

However, some women feel that Web sites catering to male lust and frustration are better avenues for them to vent their feelings. "Isn't it better that men use the web than take to eve teasing and sexual crime?''

Currently, a debate is afloat on whether Web site content needs monitoring. However, till date there is no regulatory body to monitor it. The Government has proposed setting up the Communications Commission of India (CCI), which would look at both licensing and content. The Communications Convergence Bill, under which the CCI would be set up, is pending before Parliament.

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Will cyber sex too come under scanner?