New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken an important step regarding online content that reveals the identity of the accused or presents them in an inhuman and humiliating manner. The court has sought response from the central government, all states, union territories and social media platforms Meta and X on a PIL seeking to stop police organizations from posting such content.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana issued notice after taking into consideration the arguments of senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayanan, appearing for petitioner Hemendra Patel.
Demand to make guidelines for police social media posts
The petition, filed through advocate-on-record Shrutanjay Bhardwaj, has sought direction to the states to immediately remove from the social media accounts of their police organizations such content which reveals the face or identity of an accused or shows him in a humiliating or inhuman condition.
The petition has also sought instructions to the states to prepare appropriate guidelines for the use of social media by the police, so that such content cannot be posted in future.
Mention of pictures ranging from handcuffs to dragging.
The petition referred to photographs and videos which showed the accused being handcuffed, tied with ropes, beaten with sticks, made to kneel or dragged down the stairs.
The petitioner says that such material can not only make the identity of the accused public, but also expose him in an inhuman, humiliating and dignified condition.
Demand to make policy for Meta and
The petition also sought instructions to Meta Platforms Inc and X Corp to make appropriate policies and user guidelines for their social media platforms. In this, it has been said to prevent posting of such material on related platforms including Facebook and Instagram, which reveals the identity of an accused of any crime or shows inhuman, humiliating or violent treatment.
Further, it has been sought to put in place a formal, transparent and systematic grievance redressal mechanism for immediate removal of such content if such content has already been posted upon receipt of a user complaint.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is also a party
The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Meta Platforms Inc and X Corp have been made defendants in this case. Now after the notice of the Supreme Court, the response of the Centre, States, Union Territories and the concerned social media companies will be important in this matter.