SC issues notice to Centre on plea seeking laws to regulate social media platforms
First Published: 1st February, 2021 15:48 IST
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking directions to make laws to regulate social media platforms and to hold Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp,
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking directions to make laws to regulate social media platforms and to hold Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram directly responsible for spreading hate speeches and fake news.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, while hearing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) today, said that the court will issue a notice to the Centre and tag this with a pending petition seeking the constitution of a media tribunal.
The PIL was filed by advocate Vineet Jindal earlier in the top court and sought a direction to the Union government for establishing a mechanism for automatic removal of hate speech and fake news within a short time.
“A registered account is sufficient to start a channel, which provides a platform of uploading videos in the social media such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc, which means anyone can float anything in the social media, there is no restriction or censor for their contents and there are no regulations at all by the government,” it said.
The plea was filed in wake of two tweets by the name of one Armin Navabi from his Twitter handle @ArminNavabi against Hindu goddess and using derogatory terms.
It stated that freedom of expression is a complex right, this is because freedom of expression is not absolute and carries with it special duties and responsibilities, therefore, it may be subject to certain restrictions provided by law.
The plea further said that it would be beneficial for the country to look at the regulation standards implemented by different countries in order to introduce guidelines, which form a balance between freedom of speech and accountability of social media platforms.
“India has seen plenty of communal violence in the past, but in today’s time of social media, these aggressions are not just restricted to the regional or local population, the entire country is taken along. The fog of rumours, innuendo, and hate that act as kindling in a local communal clash immediately spread across India through social media,” the plea said.
It also said there had been a few horrific communal riots and social media has been playing a harmful role in inciting communal violence in the country and time has come to check its misuse. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live People boycott Lok Sabha polls in Eastern Nagaland
19th April 2024Live Sikkim: SDF candidate PD Rai casts his vote. Rai is contesting for the Lone L S seat from Sikkim
19th April 2024Live SDF alleged SKM candidate NB Dahal intimidated voters at a polling station in Ralap
19th April 2024Live Arunachal Pradesh: EVM malfunction delays voting process in Doimukh
19th April 2024WE RECOMMEND
Lok Sabha elections 2024 Phase 1: Big faces and high-stakes battles
The candidature of its Tamil Nadu state president shows that the BJP is pressing hard to increase its presence in South India
19th April 2024“You are not innocent”: SC tells Ramdev, he says will remain conscious in future
Co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Ramdev, tendered unconditional apology "for the mistakes", adding that "What we did at the time was not correct. We will be conscious about it in the future."
16th April 2024Need skills to go far beyond Earth’s orbit: ISRO chief Somanath at Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
The ISRO chief also issued a declaration saying that India aims to create debris free space missions by 2030.
16th April 2024Five killed, several injured as bus falls from flyover in Odisha’s Jajpur
Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Shibasish Moharana said that out of 38 injured, one was seriously injured.
16th April 2024Firing outside Salman Khan’s residence: Mumbai Crime Branch arrests two accused from Gujarat
The Mumbai Police have confirmed that the two accused were caught in Gujarat's Bhuj late on Monday night.
16th April 2024