Delhi HC Raps Twitter For Not Blocking User Posting Objectionable Content On Hindu Gods
The Delhi High Court Monday (March 28) pulled up Twitter for not voluntarily taking action against an account.
Which allegedly published objectionable content about a Hindu Goddess, saying the micro-blogging platform was not bothered about sensitivities of people from other regions and ethnicities.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi, which was hearing a petition against the allegedly obnoxious posts on Maa Kaali by user ‘AtheistRepublic’, directed Twitter to explain how it undertakes the blocking of accounts while noting that there were instances of certain individuals being blocked on the platform and remarked that had such an incident happened in relation to another religion, the social media platform would have been more careful and sensitive.
“It is ultimately boiling down to this that people you feel sensitive about… The content, you will block them. You are not bothered about sensitivities of other people in other regions of the world, of ethnicities. We dare say that if these kinds of things were done in relation to another religion, you would be much more careful, more sensitive,” said the bench also comprising Justice Navin Chawla.
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for US-based Twitter, said that it has removed the objectionable content in the present case and an FIR has been registered in relation to the posts.
He stated that Twitter “cannot block any individual” and cannot take action against allegedly objectionable content in the absence of a court order.
“If this is the logic then why have you blocked Mr (Donald) Trump” questioned the court which added that prima facie, Twitter’s stand that it cannot block account was “not entirely correct”.
The court stated that since Twitter did not object to the court’s earlier prime facie view in relation to the removal of the allegedly objectionable content in the present case, the social media platform should have taken action on its own when more offending material was pointed out.