Remove porn apps, Delhi HC orders Google & Apple

NEW DELHI: Social media intermediaries must conduct due diligence even at the time of uploading apps, Delhi high court stressed Wednesday as it asked Google and Apple to remove mobile applications hosted on their online platforms that disseminate obscene pornographic content.

“We can’t permit a whole generation of the country to be ruined. We understand all kinds of freedom under Article 19 but that does not mean we allow (dissemination of vulgar content),” the court observed, as it reminded the intermediaries that their role was not limited to blocking content on receiving a complaint.

A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said, the social media intermediaries must play the “most vital role” by acting against such apps even at the time of uploading.

It also asked the Centre’s Indian Computer Emergency Response Team to check dissemination of such content, while hearing a PIL by Rubika Thapa against the hosting of mobile applications offering vulgar and pornographic content on platforms run by Google and Apple. The matter would be heard next on July 17.