The Delhi Police has requested a social media platform X to remove accounts of digital rights groups Internet Freedom Foundation and Software Freedom Law Center, allegedly for defaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police asked social media platform X to take down the accounts and posts of digital rights groups Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC), as claimed by both organisations. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, is allegedly at the center of this controversy. The posts in question document and comment on a legal notice sent in the name of the RSS to the two digital rights groups and an X account that was geo-blocked in India, which compiles blocking orders in the country. According to IFF, the notice demanded that they stop criticising and documenting blocking orders issued by the government. On October 29, IFF, SFLC, and the operator of Geo Blocked in India received a legal notice said to be issued on behalf of the RSS. The notice asked them to stop opposing the government’s blocking directions, stop documenting restricted content, stop posting details of geo-blocked posts, and confirm within a week that they would comply. On October 30, the special commissioner of police (crime) filed an 'illegal content report' with X listing posts by IFF and SFLC, alleging that the content was defamatory towards the RSS under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Delhi Police has reportedly also sent a second notice on November 1, asking for the accounts to be blocked and suspensions made, and requesting action against 16 other individuals, including RSS leader Ratan Sharda, technology journalist Abhishek Baxi, The Wire’s Editor Seema Chishti, and Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Naseer Hussain. IFF has stated that it will challenge the notices in court if they are not withdrawn.
Source:
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