Social media can’t be left in ‘anarchic freedom’: K’taka HC

Dismisses X plea against Sahyog Portal

- BHAVINI MISHRA

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dismissed the plea of social-media platform X (formerly Twitter) against the Centre’s Sahyog Portal, and said the portal was essential for the government to maintain law and order.

“The Sahyog Portal stands as a beacon of cooperation between the citizen and the intermediary, a mechanism through which the state endeavours to combat the growing menace of cybercrime,” Justice M Nagaprassana said in his judgment.

Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021, mandates that an online intermediary must remove or disable access to information that violates rules and this must be done within 36 hours of receiving notice of such violations.