The government in india has the authority to block social media handles under Section 69A of the Information technology Act 2000. This law empowers the Central and State Governments to issue orders to various online platforms, including social media companies, to remove content that poses a threat to the security, sovereignty, and public order of the country.
Before issuing such orders, the government is required to communicate in writing the reasons for blocking a particular account to the social media company. This legal framework aims to strike a balance between safeguarding national interests and respecting freedom of expression.
A notable instance involving the government's attempt to block certain twitter accounts during the 2021 farmers' movement resulted in a legal dispute. The karnataka High court, in october 2022, ruled that the government does not have the authority to issue orders to block social media accounts unless the content violates the blocking rules outlined in Section 69A of the Information technology Act 2000. The court emphadata-sized that any such action must be in accordance with the established legal framework to ensure fairness and legality.
During the legal proceedings, twitter asserted that it cannot block an account unless the content materially violates the blocking rules specified in Section 69A. This case underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the government's authority to regulate social media platforms in india and the legal parameters within which such actions must occur.
Before issuing such orders, the government is required to communicate in writing the reasons for blocking a particular account to the social media company. This legal framework aims to strike a balance between safeguarding national interests and respecting freedom of expression.
A notable instance involving the government's attempt to block certain twitter accounts during the 2021 farmers' movement resulted in a legal dispute. The karnataka High court, in october 2022, ruled that the government does not have the authority to issue orders to block social media accounts unless the content violates the blocking rules outlined in Section 69A of the Information technology Act 2000. The court emphadata-sized that any such action must be in accordance with the established legal framework to ensure fairness and legality.
During the legal proceedings, twitter asserted that it cannot block an account unless the content materially violates the blocking rules specified in Section 69A. This case underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the government's authority to regulate social media platforms in india and the legal parameters within which such actions must occur.
