Delhi HC refuses to direct Facebook to block hateful content against the Rohingya community
Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by News Desk
Recently, the Delhi High Court has refused to direct the social media giant, Facebook (Meta) to change the algorithm and to block hateful content against the Rohingya community.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was hearing the petition filed by the Rohingya refugees seeking directions to change its algorithm and to take steps to restrain Facebook from “promoting hate speech covered under Section 153-A(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and more particularly against the Rohingya community”.
The bench dismissed the petition claiming that “prior censorship of any publication of Rohingyas on Facebook is an example of a treatment that is worse than the disease”.
The court stated that the relief sought in the plea is not maintainable as there was no allegation in the writ petition that the respondents failed to abide by its statutory obligations under the IT Rules 2021.
It further quoted that IT Rules also provide for emergency blocking orders under Rule 16 at the instance of the Authorized Officer. It is not the contention of the petitioners that the said redressal mechanism is not productive. “it said the IT Rules also provide for emergency blocking order under Rule 16 at the instance of the Authorized Officer. It is not the contention of the petitioners that the said redressal mechanism is not efficacious.” It said.
The court finally disposed of the plea and observed that “as there is a robust grievance redressal mechanism in existence, the Petitioners have an alternative efficacious remedy and are at liberty to avail the redressal mechanism as per IT Rules, 2021, with respect to any objectionable posts,”
Written by Shagun Behal
