NEW DELHI, Feb 3: The government today told the Supreme Court that posting messages in social media relating to freedom of expression will not be seen as an offence.
The court is hearing petitions challenging provisions of the Information Technology law that allow the police to arrest those who post "annoying, inconvenient and dangerous messages" on social media.
"The government doesn't wish to curtail freedom of speech," the Centre told the court, adding, "Exercising one's freedom of speech won't be an offence, but this law applies to cyber crimes."
The court was told that a panel has been set up to suggest ways of safeguarding freedom of speech and preventing misuse of the law by authorities.
The Centre said phrases like "annoyance, inconvenience, danger or obstruction" used in Section 66 A of the IT Act has "no correlation or connection with any citizen's freedom of speech and expression. |
