New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday warned social media websites of imposing an exemplary fine of Rs 5 lakh each per day till they developed a foolproof mechanism to prevent uploading of objectionable materials which led to incidents like lynching. The Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta hearing a PIL filed by NGO Prajwala expressed serious concern over websites like Facebook, WhatsApp and Yahoo for their irresponsible behaviour in promoting objectionable materials including child pornography. The court granted 30 days time to the websites and search engines to put in place a proper mechanism to contain such menace.
The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern for social media search engines like Facebook, WhatsApp and Yahoo for their irresponsible behaviour in promoting objectionable materials leading to lynching of people by violent mobs. A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta hearing a PIL filed by NGO Prajwala, warned these search engines of imposing an exemplary fine of '5 lakhs each per day till they develop a foolproof mechanism to prevent uploading of such objectionable materials including child pornography, gang rapes on such social media websites.
However, taking note of the assurances from senior advocates Kapil Sibal, V. Giri and others that a mechanism would be found out, the bench granted 30 days time to the sites and search engines Yahoo, Facebook Ireland, Facebook India, Google India, Google Inc., Microsoft and Whats App, to put in place a proper mechanism. Expressing his anguish Justice Lokur asked the counsel, “What type of attitude you are all adopting? There is so much objectionable material on the social media sites. People are being lynched across the country. People are dying at various places, but you (social media sites) seem to be not bothered. You are saying that as long as it does not happen to me, it is ok, when it happens to me, then we will look into it.”
The bench made the observation after advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for NGO Prajwala complained to the court that despite several assurances by the search engines and social media sites, child pornography continues to be available on the internet medium. She submitted except in desktops where there is certain degree of restrictions on accessing child pornography, the objectionable materials including rape videos can easily be accessed on the laptops, smart phones and IPhones.
Justice Lokur asked the counsel, “How can you people be so irresponsible? So much material is still available on the social media sites. “But you don't want to do anything because you don't want to own any responsibility. So let people die you will not do anything.” Ms. Bhat told the court that none of the social media sites had so far bothered to come out with a suitable mechanism despite certain recommendations made by court appointed committee comprising officials of MHA, I&B and IT Ministry.
