Failing to comply with the Indian government’s new rules for social media intermediaries, WhatsApp has moved to the Delhi High Court, challenging the aspect of the new regulations. The petition was filed on May 25.
As per media reports, WhatsApp demands the Delhi High Court to declare that one of the new rules violates the right to privacy guaranteed by the constitution of India. It requires social media companies to identify the “first originator of the information” when authorities ask for it.
The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were announced on February 25, 2021, by the Centre with an intention to regulate social media platforms by imposing a code of ethics and mandating a three-tier grievance redressal framework. One of the new laws provides the authorities with the power to ask the companies to identify and reveal those accused of wrongdoing on their platform. According to WhatsApp, it is practically not possible without compromising user privacy.
The platform owners are willing to negotiate with the Govt while they have chosen to knock on the door of Delhi HC on a safety note.
