Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court consisting of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad, on Thursday, 28 May 2020, issued a notice to the Union of India and others with regard to an application filed, seeking the removal of certain content, containing fake news and hate speech on social media platforms.
This application was moved by KN Govindacharya with regard to the unfortunate ‘Bois Locker Room’ episode which took place earlier in May, followed by the suicide of a Gurgaon resident. He filed an application under Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code, seeking to identify the various designated officers of the intermediaries according to the Information Technology Rules.
The application highlighted the need to protect the children from the various miscreant elements on the social media and how certain unlawful elements are working through some illegal groups on social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok, etc. and how these big companies are not doing their part by removing such groups as they bring in huge profits for them.
The application also highlighted that such an episode is only ‘the tip of the iceberg’ and that to what extent juveniles, both boys and girls are vulnerable to the sick mentality which is being propagated freely without any checks or the fear of facing any repercussions on these platforms and that both young boys and girls are at a risk and their overall well-being is at stake.
It has been time and again highlighted in the application that how the social media companies are benefitting from such activities which are performed by mostly fake users who in turn bring in huge profits to these companies via such vile acts.
It has been informed to the court that the process of removing objectionable content from the social media would take place only through Designated Officer of the intermediary (social media websites) as per the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguard for Blocking Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009, Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring, and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009 and Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguard for Monitoring and Collecting Traffic Data or Information) Rules, 2009.
Thus, the main plea of the applicant remains that the interweb must be made safe for the juveniles and minors who are at a vulnerable position and has prayed to the Court to give directions to the Union of India and for it to direct the social media companies via its Designated Officers to remove certain groups and their content which is harmful to the children and the society.
86540
103860
630
114
59824