Thread by @SFLCin

6 districts in Haryana have imposed a ban on social media news platforms using provisions - Section 188 of the IPC, Disaster Management Act 2005 and Epidemic Disease Act, 1957.
@IndianExpress
indianexpress.com/article/india/…
#FreedomOfSpeech #WebsiteBan #Haryana

The reason for the said ban is stated to be “dissemination of unverified and misleading news from such platforms may disturb tranquillity in the society and may adversely affect the mental health of common man during the COVID-19 pandemic".
#Covid_19 #pandemic #FakeNews

These six districts include #Sonipat, #Kaithal, #CharkhiDadri, #Karnal, #Narnaul and #Bhiwani.
The News platforms upon which the Ban has been imposed are based on WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, Instagram, Public App and LinkedIn.
cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3d296c101daa8…
#Covid_19

One of the reasons stated for the block through orders obtained for Kaithal district dated 1 July, 2020 is that no permission has been taken and these news platforms haven't registered themselves with the government and hence fall outside the purview of the Code of Conduct.

The order further states that willful or accidental incorrect reporting can lead to panic in the state. It states that in absence of a regulatory body running them like a news portal can lead to disastrous reactions.
#journalism #FakeNews #COVID19India

The order from Kaithal district seems to be signed by a district judge.
cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3a666587afda6…
#FreedomOfExpression

We are looking into this issue on an urgent basis and we will be publishing an analysis soon. Prima Facie, these orders violate the right to free speech and expression.
#FreedomOfSpeech #DigitalRights #DigitalDefenders
#JournalismMatters #FreedomOfExpression