Remove apps promoting porn, crime: Delhi HC to Google, Apple
What's the story
The Delhi High Court has ordered tech giants Google and Apple to take strict action against mobile apps promoting pornographic and illegal content, as per Bar and Bench. The order came following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Rubika Thapa. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia stressed that intermediaries like Google and Apple cannot be passive in this matter.
App scrutiny
Intermediaries must exercise greater scrutiny: HC
The court emphasized that these intermediaries must exercise greater scrutiny before allowing such apps on their platforms. "Having regard to reach of such applications, we are of the opinion that in terms of IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, the intermediaries have to play the most vital role not only on receiving any such complaint but also they have to exercise diligence at the time of permitting such applications being uploaded through them," said the bench.
Youth protection
Bench warns against letting entire generation suffer
The bench also warned that it can't let the entire generation of the country suffer due to such apps. It stressed that intermediaries are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Information Technology Rules, 2021. The court directed Apple, Google, and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to immediately check the circulation of such content and ensure these rules are followed "in letter and spirit."
Compliance report
Action taken report to be submitted
The court has also asked Google, Apple, and the Indian government to submit an action taken report before the next hearing scheduled in July. This move underscores the court's determination to hold tech giants accountable for their role in regulating app content on their platforms.