Freedom of Speech: ‘American micro-blogging platform Twitter does not have the right to freedom of expression under Article-19.’ The Central Government said this in the Karnataka High Court on Thursday (March 16). It was said on behalf of the government that under Article 19, the right of freedom of speech in the constitution is for the citizens and institutions of India and not for foreigners.
Actually, Twitter had appealed in the Karnataka High Court against some orders of the Central Government. In which between February 2021 and February 2022, Twitter was ordered to block some accounts and posts by the Center. Twitter had claimed that these orders were arbitrary, as no prior notice was given to the author of the content.
Twitter cannot get protection under Article 19 – Central Government
Additional Solicitor General (South) R Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the Central Government, said before the High Court that Twitter cannot get protection under Article 19, because it is a foreign institution. There is nothing arbitrary in this under Article 14 and Section 69(A) reinforces it… So they cannot get any kind of relief. The next date for hearing of this matter has been given on April 10.
‘Twitter kept citing privacy rules’
R Sankaranarayanan said in the High Court that whenever information about the profile was sought from Twitter, the company cited its privacy rule. He said that due to this a dangerous situation could have arisen and there was also a danger of violence. He said that if someone from the fake accounts of the Government of Pakistan had tweeted that talking about India-occupied Kashmir or LTTE chief Prabhakaran being alive, then the situation could have been dire.
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