During a hearing on a PIL in India, the Supreme Court remarked that notice must be given to social media users before blocking their accounts, as articulated by Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih. They emphasized that identifiable users should receive notice.
The PIL, filed by the Software Freedom Law Centre, challenges IT Rules enabling content blocking without notifying originators. Indira Jaising, representing the petitioner, argues against lack of user notices, citing breach of natural justice. Their focus isn’t on the state’s content removal authority but on the need to inform identifiable users beforehand.
The petition requests changes to Rule 16 for notification and hearings, and Rule 8 regarding serving notices to intermediaries and originators. It also asks for a standardized notice format and disclosure of instances where blocking occurred without informing the parties.
Jaising highlighted the case of Sanjay Hegde, whose social media account was suspended without notice for years, noting it as a public example of online censorship. The court has issued a notice to the Union Government, asking for a response within six weeks regarding these issues.
Sources News From Various Digital Platforms, Websites, Journalists, And Agencies.
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