The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that authorities must provide users with a copy of any order requiring the removal of their social media content. While the 2021 Information Technology Rules do not explicitly mandate notifying the account holder, the court emphasized that the principles of natural justice require such transparency. This directive emerged during a case involving Haryana 24 News Network, which challenged a police order to block its Facebook page in India without prior warning. The Yamuna Nagar police had issued the takedown request, citing an extortion case involving one of the network's directors. By requiring that users receive formal notice, the court aims to ensure procedural fairness in digital content regulation, moving beyond the current practice of only notifying the intermediary platforms.
Source : Scroll.in
Photo : Scroll.in
