Now social networking site users to move court

Bangalore, Jan 16: With popular websites like Google, Yahoo and Facebook in an open spat with the government over the issue over censoring "objectionable content", the users of such populist sites have decided to take matters to a different level. The users have decided to approach High Court's in their respective states seeking protection of their accounts on Facebook and other sites.

The apparent knee-jerk reaction came after the Centre granted approval for the prosecution of the 21 social networking sites, including Facebook, Google and others. The Delhi High Court also threatened that it may also shut down such websites.

A senior advocate in the Supreme Court has been quoted as saying that he was approached by several social networking site users from Bangalore, Noida and Gurgaon on the Delhi High Court's move. They were apprehensive that the court may direct the government to block these sites.

The advocate stated, "Users in cities like Gurgaon and Noida are constitutionally entitled to reject the wisdom of the Delhi High Court and seek protection from their own High Courts. Similarly, users elsewhere in India are equally entitled to protect their access to Facebook and other sites by approaching their respective high courts."

On the event of the Delhi High Court directing the Centre to block such networking sites, the advocate stated that it is likely that users might move their respective High Court's, especially those outside the National Capital Region. They can seek a direction from the state government to limit the curb in the territory of Delhi alone. The advocate added that the Delhi High Court's decision cannot be imposed on the territory or state of the aggrieved Internet users.

OneIndia News