DC Edit | Arbitrary curbs on social media, speech must end
1 week, 1 day ago

DC Edit | Arbitrary curbs on social media, speech must end

Deccan Chronicle  

How free is free speech in India? While India has never supported absolute freedom of speech, as evidenced in its handling of the free expression of extreme opinions, it must better define its approach to how much freedom it tolerates. However, this is also a time when Musk is being supported in his quest to bring in absolute freedom of speech into social media platforms like his X. It is the arbitrariness of executive orders skirting due process — in which a reason must be furnished for blocking content viewed as objectionable by the government or the powers behind it for a court to issue an order to block content — that makes much government action violative of the principles of free speech and expression. Bypassing such regulations that safeguard operations like social media and communications platforms while leaning on questionable powers under vague laws allowing arbitrary exercise of power is behind India’s place in global freedom of speech indices.

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History of this topic

What does Trump’s new social media policy mean for Indian Green Card holders?
Trending News
5 days, 1 hour ago

What does Trump’s new social media policy mean for Indian Green Card holders?

Hindustan Times  

Are you a Green Card holder in America? Then this might concern you, as the Trump administration recently proposed expanding social media vetting for green card applicants already residing in the U.S. Critics argue this could violate free speech rights, especially for political discourse among Indian applicants who fear government scrutiny of their online activities. Citizenship and Immigration Services identified …

The world according to Grok: India must keep trade issues apart from free speech
6 days, 3 hours ago

The world according to Grok: India must keep trade issues apart from free speech

Live Mint  

India has been playing nice with America’s Donald Trump administration. Therefore, many see as dark irony the aggressive stance adopted by another firm owned by Elon Musk, X, the microblog platform that he took over in 2022, in suing the government of India over what it sees as attempts to censor free speech. America might While the White House has …

Elon Musk addresses controversy about Grok’s ‘brutally honest’ replies about India… with an emoji
1 week, 1 day ago

Elon Musk addresses controversy about Grok’s ‘brutally honest’ replies about India… with an emoji

Hindustan Times  

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has created a stir among Indian social media users after it used Hindi slang and unfiltered language in response to a user's queries about “best mutuals”. What followed next turned into a viral storm, as the chatbot started answering questions on everything including politics, political figures, cricket, gossip, and Bollywood - and people labelled the …

Why is X suing the Indian government as Musk woos Modi?
1 week, 1 day ago

Why is X suing the Indian government as Musk woos Modi?

Al Jazeera  

X has filed a lawsuit alleging that New Delhi is unlawfully censoring content online. But almost a month later, Musk’s social media platform X has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging that New Delhi is unlawfully censoring content online. In a suit filed in the high court of the South Indian state of Karnataka on March 5, X …

Don’t gag free speech
1 week, 4 days ago

Don’t gag free speech

Times of India  

Times of India’s Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. Monday’s SC hearing was about a Delhi HC order against Wikipedia that deemed criticism to be “interference in court proceedings”. That’s their opinion, but we decide on law.” During the hearing, the bench once again emphasised …

Battling India’s infodemic: Why we urgently need a comprehensive law to counter fake news
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Battling India’s infodemic: Why we urgently need a comprehensive law to counter fake news

New Indian Express  

In the present era of instant information, differentiating truth from lies is becoming harder. Despite facing a severe global disinformation crisis, India still lacks a robust legal framework to effectively combat fake news. France and Germany have enacted strict laws that mandate social media platforms to remove fake news within 24 hours or face hefty fines. India’s closest attempt at …

DC Edit | Can govt calibrate free speech on social media?
3 weeks, 4 days ago

DC Edit | Can govt calibrate free speech on social media?

Deccan Chronicle  

Freedom of speech and expression is critical to the very existence of the idea of democracy and India’s Constitution is very clear on it. Some restrictions were subsequently introduced by the government of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on the plea that “the citizen's right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19 has been held …

Bhopal Police bans hate speech on social media to prevent communal unrest
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Bhopal Police bans hate speech on social media to prevent communal unrest

India Today  

Bhopal Police on Saturday issued a prohibitory order to curb the misuse of social media platforms in spreading hatred, inciting violence, and disrupting communal harmony. The move followed concerns that certain anti-social elements have been leveraging platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram to circulate objectionable messages, images, and videos that could provoke communal tensions. The order explicitly prohibits …

Harassment, plaints and mass campaign: Online hate battle takes new shape
1 month ago

Harassment, plaints and mass campaign: Online hate battle takes new shape

India Today  

Indian social media has long been a battleground where extremists ridicule the religious beliefs of others, often countering hate with more hate. One of the most-active members of ‘Team Muslim’ recently posted personal details of two targets – their names ending with Thakur and Rajput – for alleged hate speech. TRAINING YOUNG RECRUITS India Today's Open-Source Intelligence team found an …

Vikatan Blocked & Silenced? Editors Guild Slams MeitY’s Crackdown on Press Freedom
1 month, 1 week ago

Vikatan Blocked & Silenced? Editors Guild Slams MeitY’s Crackdown on Press Freedom

The Hindu  

Published : Feb 20, 2025 20:12 IST - 3 MINS READ The watchdog of India’s press freedom, Editors Guild of India, has strongly condemned the block of the Tamil news portal Vikatan.com, calling it an example of government overreach that threatens press freedom in the country. In a move that has sparked widespread outrage among journalists and free speech advocates, …

Outrage over Indian YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia raises social media regulation concerns
1 month, 1 week ago

Outrage over Indian YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia raises social media regulation concerns

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — A famous YouTuber in India is facing public outrage and a police investigation after he made an allegedly obscene remark on a YouTube show, raising questions about freedom of speech in a country where digital creators in the past have come under fire for their content. The controversy began last week when social media influencer and YouTuber …

To Speak Or Not To Speak: Understanding TheThin Line Between Free Speech And Obscenity
1 month, 1 week ago

To Speak Or Not To Speak: Understanding TheThin Line Between Free Speech And Obscenity

Live Law  

The YouTube Show, India's Got Latent, has been embroiled in a major controversy because its host Samay Raina, podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, and other fellow panellists have been booked by the Maharashtra Cyber Police for allegedly transmitting content which is putative to be vulgar and obscene. The Hicklin Test states that for deciding upon obscenity one needs to look whether the …

SC: Balance free speech with responsibility
1 month, 1 week ago

SC: Balance free speech with responsibility

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday underscored the critical responsibility of the media in ensuring accuracy and fairness in its reporting, particularly when dealing with sensitive matters that could impact the integrity of individuals or institutions. The bench, while upholding the fundamental right to free speech enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution, stressed that this right comes with …

DC Edit | SC must define free speech boundaries
1 month, 1 week ago

DC Edit | SC must define free speech boundaries

Deccan Chronicle  

The Ranveer Allahbadia issue has triggered a debate on the need for regulation of digital content even as the person’s distasteful comments as a guest on a television show has tested the limits of free speech in this age of social media where supervision over a limitless medium has become a nearly impossible task. What society stresses even in an …

Big Tech’s Role in Spreading Hate Speech in India Is a Lesson for the World
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Big Tech’s Role in Spreading Hate Speech in India Is a Lesson for the World

The Quint  

In several of these instances, the people being targeted were Muslims, as evidenced by their responses to being asked their names on camera in the videos posted by the vigilantes. For instance, Instagram’s community guidelines claim that the platform removes content that “contains credible threats or hateful conduct” or “targets private individuals to degrade or shame them”. The guidelines also …

Ranveer Allahbadia's 'Sex With Parents' Remark: What Does The Law Say On Vulgarity?
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Ranveer Allahbadia's 'Sex With Parents' Remark: What Does The Law Say On Vulgarity?

ABP News  

YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia has found himself in choppy waters after his crass remarks to a contestant on comedian Samay Raina's roast show 'India's Got Latent'. During Zero Hour, Mhaske said there was a need to enact a law to regulate social media platforms where influencers are posting "all kinds of nonsense" in the name of freedom of speech. Allahbadia, who …

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Says Strict Action Will Be Taken Against Misuse of Free Speech
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Says Strict Action Will Be Taken Against Misuse of Free Speech

Deccan Chronicle  

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday criticised popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia for his controversial comment on a YouTube programme. The misuse of ‘freedom of speech’ will not be accepted and the police will take appropriate action, the CM said. Criticising Allahbadia, the Maharashtra CM said that society has made some rules, and any violation of these rules is …

Hate speech on ‘staggering’ rise in Modi’s India, report finds
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Hate speech on ‘staggering’ rise in Modi’s India, report finds

CNN  

New Delhi CNN — India’s religious minorities have faced a “staggering” rise in hate speech over the past year, including from top leaders of the ruling Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a report released Monday. “Hate speech in India in 2024 followed an alarming trajectory, deeply intertwined with the ideological ambitions of the ruling Bharatiya …

Anti-Indian hate rising on Elon Musk's X, claims US think-tank report
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Anti-Indian hate rising on Elon Musk's X, claims US think-tank report

Hindustan Times  

Anti-Indian hate posts on X have surged dramatically in the last month, according to an analysis of 128 posts conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the Center for the Study of Organized Hate. The study found that hateful content spiked between December 22, 2024, and January 3, 2025, coinciding with two key events: Indian-American business leader Sriram Krishnan's appointment …

Bill to regulate social media raises risk of free speech and free press being casualty in Nepal
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Bill to regulate social media raises risk of free speech and free press being casualty in Nepal

The Hindu  

The K. P. Sharma Oli government’s move to enact new laws in Nepal to regulate social media has met with fierce criticism, with free speech advocates warning of serious implications for freedom of expression in the country. Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung registered the “Bill Related to Operation, Use, and Regulation of Social Media in Nepal” in …

Celebrities hit back at social media trolls with defamation suits to safeguard their reputations
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Celebrities hit back at social media trolls with defamation suits to safeguard their reputations

Live Mint  

Celebrities are increasingly considering filing suits against media platforms that carry defamatory content by trolls, having become more cognisant of the damage that can be caused as the dissemination and consumption of content on the Internet surges. “In India, celebrities increasingly resort to filing defamation suits against media outlets, including traditional media houses and social media platforms. This trend has …

Parliamentary proceedings: Need for strengthening laws governing social media and OTT platforms: Ashwini Vaishnaw
4 months ago

Parliamentary proceedings: Need for strengthening laws governing social media and OTT platforms: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Hindu  

Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday emphasised the need to strengthen existing laws governing social media and OTT platforms and build a societal consensus on the issue. He said that due to the absence of such editorial oversight, social media had become a platform for freedom of the press, but it has also become a space …

Doesn't match our culture: Minister for laws to curb social media vulgar content
4 months ago

Doesn't match our culture: Minister for laws to curb social media vulgar content

India Today  

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday called for laws to curb objectionable content on social media and hoped that the Opposition would have a discussion on the same. The government has urged social media platforms to be more proactive in content moderation, especially when it comes to harmful or illegal content. It said that social media companies …

'Free speech is cancelled': Observers alarmed by key Trump ally's latest statement
Trending News
4 months, 1 week ago

'Free speech is cancelled': Observers alarmed by key Trump ally's latest statement

Raw Story  

A key Donald Trump ally on Saturday made a statement that alarmed onlookers concerned about free speech and fair distribution of justice. Political commentator Brian Krassenstein responded directly to Musk, writing, "Wait, are you suggesting that people should be arrested for posting their opinions or facts that point to the likelihood of foreign interference?" David Santoro, the author of Treating …

Anti-India narrative on social media: Why it’s time for government to counter online negativity
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Anti-India narrative on social media: Why it’s time for government to counter online negativity

Firstpost  

A wave of anti-India sentiment is flooding social media, distorting our global image. India can no longer afford silence and has to reclaim its narrative on the world stage Lately, social media has evolved into a platform where global narratives are created, shaped, and spread at turbo speed. A recent example is the “What’s wrong with India?” campaign on social …

The harm principle: how John Mill’s theory defines the extent of liberty
6 months, 3 weeks ago

The harm principle: how John Mill’s theory defines the extent of liberty

The Hindu  

A few days ago, a minor girl was gang-raped in the Dhing area of Nagaon district, Assam, allegedly by three Muslim men. As anger over the horrific incident and against the community escalated, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has called Muslims a “communal organisation” in the past, said he would not allow “Miya Muslims” to “take over all of …

DC Edit | Govts, leave social media alone
7 months ago

DC Edit | Govts, leave social media alone

Deccan Chronicle  

What can governments do about social media platforms? Amid a developing scenario in which both free-speech advocates and authoritarian governments are protesting the treatment being meted out to the CEO of Telegram who is facing the rigour of the law in France, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken an unusual stand to use the social media for boosting its popularity …

Elon Musk is asking people to yell at him (ideally on X). Here’s why
7 months ago

Elon Musk is asking people to yell at him (ideally on X). Here’s why

Live Mint  

X owner Elon Musk has reaffirmed his commitment to freedom of speech, stating that the social media giant should support all viewpoints within the law of the land, even those with which he disagrees. If that doesn’t seem to be happening, please yell at me.” Musk supports Mark Zuckerberg's claims on censorship: Meanwhile, Elon Musk also recently responded to a …

Elon Musk’s free speech mantra collides with crackdowns on hate speech and disinformation
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Elon Musk’s free speech mantra collides with crackdowns on hate speech and disinformation

Hindustan Times  

Elon Musk’s absolutist version of free speech has thrown the world’s richest man and his X social-media platform into the crosshairs of governments worldwide. Any attempt to rein in social-media expression runs headlong into Musk’s hands-off approach to user posts, a “free speech” pledge that he defends ardently on the website formerly known as Twitter, which he acquired for $44 …

Independent readers say ‘X is the disinformation company’ – and call for Elon Musk boycott
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Independent readers say ‘X is the disinformation company’ – and call for Elon Musk boycott

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Independent readers have slammed social media companies, accusing them of allowing disinformation to …

Musk ‘one of the most dangerous men on the planet’, says Yousaf
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Musk ‘one of the most dangerous men on the planet’, says Yousaf

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He is accountable to nobody, …

Free Speech v. Digital Disinformation: How Is State Intervention In Social Media Content Moderation Being Navigated In USA & India
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Free Speech v. Digital Disinformation: How Is State Intervention In Social Media Content Moderation Being Navigated In USA & India

Live Law  

Recently, the United States Supreme Court in Moody v. NetChoice, LLC refrained from issuing what could have been a landmark judgment on a pivotal issue: whether states can enact laws that limit the power of social media companies to moderate content. This case revolved around the constitutionality of laws enacted by Texas and Florida that aimed to restrict social media …

Free speech in the age of rage!
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Free speech in the age of rage!

Times of India  

Aditi Maheshwari is a freelance writer, and has been a student of Economics, Advertising, Marketing, Psychology and also of the Institute Of Company Secretaries Of India. Free speech in the age of rage is messy, it’s uncomfortable, and sometimes, it’s downright ugly. Free speech, when wielded responsibly, becomes Ariadne’s thread, a tool to navigate this treacherous path. In an age …

Can classrooms counter hate speech in the age of social media?
11 months ago

Can classrooms counter hate speech in the age of social media?

The Hindu  

The definition of the word ‘classroom’ has evolved significantly over the last few years. Hate speech is clearly one such area where a classroom needs to be proactive enough to dispel misconceptions, especially those going easily viral in the ongoing digital age. While a lot of misinformation exists across social media outlets, none is as deadly as those that promote …

Musk’s X asks judge to penalize nonprofit researchers tracking rise of hate speech on platform
1 year, 1 month ago

Musk’s X asks judge to penalize nonprofit researchers tracking rise of hate speech on platform

Associated Press  

Attorneys for X Corp. and a research organization that studies online hate speech traded arguments in court Thursday after the social media platform sued the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate for documenting the increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased by Elon Musk. X, formerly known as Twitter, alleges the center’s researchers violated the site’s …

Musk's X asks judge to penalize nonprofit researchers tracking rise of hate speech on platform
1 year, 1 month ago

Musk's X asks judge to penalize nonprofit researchers tracking rise of hate speech on platform

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Attorneys for X Corp. and …

Want hate speech to stop but can’t put pre-emptive curbs: Supreme Court
1 year, 2 months ago

Want hate speech to stop but can’t put pre-emptive curbs: Supreme Court

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday maintained that though it wants hate speeches and incitement to violence to stop, it cannot pre-empt people’s right to free speech and assembly by restraining them from holding meetings or processions without first granting them an audience. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta emphasised that the top court was inclined to strengthen …

Shashidhar Nanjundaiah | Threats to free speech rise as global conflicts intensify
1 year, 3 months ago

Shashidhar Nanjundaiah | Threats to free speech rise as global conflicts intensify

Deccan Chronicle  

To say that our world has become much more polarised than before after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine would be to state the obvious. That is truly ironic: It is the right-wingers who decry the so-called “cancel culture” and hail free speech. Free speech law stops at the gates of private spaces, although most private universities promise to follow …

Fake news has replaced the character of discourse from truth-seeking to the loudest voice: CJI
1 year, 3 months ago

Fake news has replaced the character of discourse from truth-seeking to the loudest voice: CJI

The Hindu  

Chief Justice of India D.Y. The Chief Justice said freedom of speech was traditionally considered an essential part of civil rights activism for the fear that government would gag certain kinds of speech. However, he said, “with the advent of troll armies and organised disinformation campaigns across different social media platforms, the fear is that there is an overwhelming barrage …

Nepal bans TikTok saying it is ‘disrupting social harmony’
1 year, 4 months ago

Nepal bans TikTok saying it is ‘disrupting social harmony’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nepal has become the latest …

GB News has debased the concept of ‘free speech’
1 year, 6 months ago

GB News has debased the concept of ‘free speech’

The Independent  

I was greatly impressed by Sean O’Grady’s piece about GB News and the toxicity of its invective. Our concept of “free speech” is being debased by GB News and its ilk: if it encompasses free rein to abuse, then it degenerates into “bully speech”, and only the vilest contributors will dominate public discourse. Paul Atkins Burntwood Tear the Tories out …

X marks the lawsuit: Elon Musk's social media company sues nonprofit highlighting site's hate speech
1 year, 7 months ago

X marks the lawsuit: Elon Musk's social media company sues nonprofit highlighting site's hate speech

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy X, the social media platform …

Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hateful tweets
1 year, 7 months ago

Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hateful tweets

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased last year by Elon Musk. An attorney representing the social media site wrote to the Center for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening legal …

Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hate tweets
1 year, 7 months ago

Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hate tweets

Al Jazeera  

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased last year by Elon Musk. A lawyer representing the social media site wrote to the Center for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening legal action over …

Australia warns of potential fines for Musk's Twitter amidst growing Hate speech
1 year, 9 months ago

Australia warns of potential fines for Musk's Twitter amidst growing Hate speech

India TV News  

Australia warns of potential fines for Musk's Twitter amidst growing Hate speech Twitter faces criticism from the eSafety Commissioner for its inadequate handling of hate speech, as one-third of reported online hate complaints are now attributed to the platform. Australia's cyber regulator has issued a legal notice to Twitter, led by Elon Musk, demanding information on the platform's efforts to …

Elon Musk promotes transphobic content as hate speech surges on his far-right platform
1 year, 9 months ago

Elon Musk promotes transphobic content as hate speech surges on his far-right platform

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Elon Musk fires back at Twitter censorship critic: ‘You’re such a numbskull’
1 year, 10 months ago

Elon Musk fires back at Twitter censorship critic: ‘You’re such a numbskull’

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Twitter boss Elon Musk, who has often touted himself as a champion of …

World Press Freedom Day | How free speech in India is compromised by government control over platforms: Book excerpt from ‘Caged Tiger: How Too Much Government is Holding Indians Back’ by Subhashish B
1 year, 10 months ago

World Press Freedom Day | How free speech in India is compromised by government control over platforms: Book excerpt from ‘Caged Tiger: How Too Much Government is Holding Indians Back’ by Subhashish B

The Hindu  

Published : May 03, 2023 07:00 IST - 6 MINS READ In December 2004, the Delhi Police arrested Avnish Bajaj, the CEO of Baazee.com, because someone in Kharagpur, West Bengal, tried to sell through the website video copies of two Delhi-based students having sex. Social media companies, a term left vague and expansive, need to take down content within 36 …

How hate speech and conspiracies are thriving on Elon Musk’s Twitter
1 year, 10 months ago

How hate speech and conspiracies are thriving on Elon Musk’s Twitter

The Hindu  

Recently, there have been many spelling mistakes in the tweets of Twitter users debating controversial subjects like religion, terrorism, crime, and yes, even Indian history. The word “Ola,” which refers to the Indian ride-hailing service, was used in place of “Allah.” The tweet was posted after CEO Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover of Twitter. Distortions of hate Some of the …

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