The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Union government, all states, Union Territories, and major social media entities regarding a public interest litigation seeking to stop police organizations from sharing online content that identifies or dehumanizes accused individuals.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana initiated the proceedings after hearing arguments from senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan. The petition was filed on behalf of petitioner Hemendra Patel through advocate-on-record Shrutanjaya Bhardwaj.
Proposed Directives For Law Enforcement
The litigation requests explicit directions ordering state authorities to immediately delete any existing posts on official police social media accounts that disclose the faces or personal identities of suspects. Additionally, the filing urges the court to mandate that state governments establish regulatory frameworks governing social media use by law enforcement to block similar posts moving forward.
Depictions Of Inhumane Treatment Cited
To demonstrate the issue, the petition highlighted instance footage and images published online showing suspects bound in ropes, handcuffed, beaten with sticks, forced to kneel, or forcibly pulled down staircases. The petitioner argued that such posts subject accused persons to derogatory and dehumanizing treatment prior to trial.
Requirements For Social Media Companies
Along with state and Union Territory administrations, the lawsuit names the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Meta Platforms Inc., and X Corp as respondents.
The plea calls on Meta—which operates Facebook and Instagram—and X Corp to introduce updated user guidelines banning content that reveals the identity of suspects or portrays them being treated in an inhuman manner. It also asks for the creation of a formal, transparent, and structured reporting system to ensure prompt removal of such media when reported by users.
