TNI Bureau: The social media laws are likely to be re-written following the arrests of two girls and one teen for Facebook comments as a PIL has been filed in Supreme Court challenging Section 66(A) of the Information Technology Act which recommends Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service.
The apex court will hear the case tomorrow. The question arises, is it the time to rewrite the social media laws? Or the social media sites and their users will be restricted while posting comments?
Support Independent Journalism? Keep us live.
Everything will be clear on Friday. However, students raised their voice over recent incidents of people being arrested for posting alleged offensive messages on websites. Even the apex court agreed to hear the PIL seeking changes to the Act. The petition wants the offence under Section 66(A) of the Information Technology Act to be made non-cognizable.
The PIL comes a day after Thane Superintendent of Police and Palghar police station Sub-Inspector were suspended for disobeying the orders of the IG of Konkan zone while arresting two girls from Palghar for the Facebook post on the day of Shiv Sena supreme Bal Thackray.
Recently, a 19-year-old boy was the victim of the harsh law for posting comments against MNS chief Raj Thackray on Facebook. He was handed over to the police to explain why posted. Later, he was released.