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Twitter has claimed that several blocking orders were issued to Twitter by the government, only state the grounds of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, and fail to establish how the content is violative of Section 69A of the Act.
Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for social media giant Twitter before the Karnataka High Court today argued that the company is answerable to account holders when their accounts are taken down or blocked.
Twitter had challenged certain blocking orders issued by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).
According to media reports, Twitter has claimed that several blocking orders that were issued to Twitter by the government, only elaborate the grounds of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, but fail to establish how the content is violative of Section 69A.
Centre had directed Twitter to act on the take-down notices sent under Section 69A of the IT Act. Centre had also issued notices for non-compliance, as some of the content was not taken down.
Twitter has also sought the directions of the court on some of the content that forms a part of various blocking orders. The company has asked the court to set aside these blocking orders.
The report, noted that IT Ministry had, in June, warned Twitter of strict action if it does not comply with some content takedown orders. It is twitter’s contention that multiple accounts and content included in the blocking orders are either "overbroad and arbitrary" which fail to provide notice to the "originators" of the content, or are "disproportionate" in several cases.
The matter came up for hearing today before Justice Krishna Dixit today. Rohatgi argued that no reasons were assigned to blocking orders when they were issued. He argued that Twitter’s business will come to an end if it continues this way and twitter is answerable to persons having accounts on the platform.
The judge, while issuing notice in the matter, directed twitter to serve all documents referred by them, in a sealed cover, to the respondents.
The counsel for the government sought time in the plea as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is unwell. The court, thus, adjourned the plea for further hearing on August 25, 2022.
Case title: Twitter Vs Union of India
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