India Victory on Freedom of Speech Online
India's Supreme Court has scrapped away their Section66A law stating that any offensive comments online would lead to arrests made. The fact that this was even a law at one point shows how censored the Indian government can be with their rules against the media and freedom of speech and press. In the Hindustan Times they reported,
“We hold the section unconstitutional on the grounds that it takes within its sweep protected speech that is innocent in nature. It is liable to have a chilling effect on free speech and, therefore, has to be struck down,” the court said."
The law was said to hold the power to send someone to jail for up to three years for something as simple as a social media message or email that would be considered annoying or inappropriate. According to BBC News,
"The law was first challenged by a law student after two young women were arrested in November 2012 in Mumbai for comments on Facebook following the death of politician Bal Thackeray.
Shaheen Dhada was held for criticising Mumbai's shutdown after Thackeray's death. Renu Srinivasan, who "liked" the comment, was also arrested. The two were later released on bail."
Since than the law had caused several other arrested through out the years. It was a ray of victory for India on Tuesday, March 24th, when the Indian government trashed the Section66A law in the name of freedom of speech for the people. Hope was restored for meaning behind the word freedom in India.
