The first law for Israel that poses a number of restrictions on the internet has been approved on July 24th, by the Israeli government, which permits the Court to block or remove internet sites that promote illegal gambling, prostitution, child pornography, online dealing of hard drugs, crime and terrorism.
If a provider does not comply with the new legislation, can be jailed for two years.
In addition, courts can also order search engines to remove the websites from search results. As per the law, the affected parties must be present in court unless they were summoned and failed to appear.
Gilad Erdan, Public Security Minister, said: “We are closing an enforcement gap of many years during which the existing law was disconnected from the migration of crime to the internet. The new law will give the police the necessary tools to fight criminals, felons, and inciters who have moved their activities online.”
A lot of people complained that the new legislation is the beginning of a very slippery inclination towards additional censorship.
However, the legislation dictates that groups under scrutiny have the right to appeal the decisions.