Remove URLs containing sexually explicit video of judge on receiving complaint: Delhi High Court to social media platforms

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed social media intermediaries to remove any URLs of a video wherein a judicial officer was allegedly seen in a compromising position with one of his staff members. .Justice Yashwant Varma disposed of the suit with the direction that social media intermediaries have to act if and when a complaint is received.The suit was filed by the woman (plaintiff) who is stated to be in a video.The Court passed the order after the plaintiff submitted that the defendant-intermediaries had taken remedial steps and, therefore, the prayer for damages was not being pressed. "Suit shall stand decreed with defendants being required to take down any offending URL or posts pertaining to the video, if not already removed in terms of the November 13 injunction," the single-judge directed. .Justice Varma further explained that in case the plaintiff brings to the intermediary's notice any remaining URLs which relate to the offending video, the request would be independently examined. In case it is found to be a part of the subject matter of the suit, further steps should be taken, the Court said..Additionally, the Court allowed refund of court fee to the plaintiff since the claim was satisfied. .The order was passed despite some intermediaries opposing such a direction, arguing that it would place them under a continuing obligation to attend to any issues that may arise. .The High Court had on November 30, passed the interim order directing social media platforms to block and stop the circulation of the controversial video in which a judicial officer was allegedly seen in a compromising position with a woman stated to be working as a member of his staff.The short video clip had gone viral on social media and the time stamp showed that the video was from March 2022.Justice Yashwant Varma passed the order after noting that the video was explicit in nature and an imminent, grave and and irreparable harm would to be caused to the privacy rights of the persons in the video..Subsequently, social media platforms Twitter, YouTube and Facebook had told the High Court that they have taken down the video and blocked several URLs. .Advocate Ashish Dixit appeared for the plaintiff. .[Read our live-coverage of the hearing below]