Delhi High Court Strikes Down ‘Misinformation Rules’ for Social Media
- ByAdmin --
- 10 Mar 2025 --
- 0 Comments
The internet has been a battleground for free speech and government control for years. In India, this fight took a dramatic turn when the Delhi High Court struck down controversial amendments to the Information Technology Rules, known as the ‘Misinformation Rules.’
These rules gave the government unilateral power to label online content as ‘false or misleading’ and order its removal. Critics called it digital authoritarianism in disguise. The government, however, defended the amendments, arguing that they were necessary to combat fake news.
Justice Sanjeev Narula, delivering the verdict, firmly disagreed. He ruled that vague definitions and unchecked executive power were a direct threat to free speech. “The right to express includes the right to be wrong, as long as it does not incite harm,” he noted in his judgment.
This landmark decision reaffirmed that digital speech deserves the same protections as offline speech. Social media platforms will no longer be forced to act as censors for the government, and citizens can continue to express their opinions without the fear of arbitrary takedowns.
The ruling has wider implications. It sets a precedent that executive power over digital platforms must have clear checks and balances. For digital rights activists, it was a victory worth celebrating—a sign that the judiciary remains a guardian of free expression in the digital age.
RELATED Blog
0 comments