Twitter cannot speak on behalf of account-holders against blocking of accounts: Central government to Karnataka High Court

The Central government on Monday told the Karnataka High Court that Twitter cannot speak on behalf of its account holders and, therefore, has no locus standi to file a petition challenging ten blocking orders issued by the government directing Twitter to take down at 39 URLs..Justice Krishna S Dixit was further told that Twitter did not have the right to espouse the cause of users since such an action requires statutory enablement."On the question of locus, is he an aggrieved person? Is he espousing the cause of all account holders that use Twitter? There is no question of any membership or relationship between them and account-holders", argued the Additional Solicitor General (ASG). .The Centre went on to state that the company could only approach the court claiming violation of rights under Article 14 if the government has acted arbitrarily. In this regard, the ASG made detailed submissions as to the conditions under which accounts can be blocked. "He has prepared a platform, anyone can join. The account holder is not carrying on a business. He only expresses. The government says it is likely to affect interests of India.. The intermediary should distance itself from the account holder. He does not hold a brief for him," the ASG added. .The government will continue making its arguments on March 6. .The blocking orders under challenge were issued by the Central government to Twitter between February 2021 and February 2022 and directed Twitter to block certain information from access to the public, and to suspend several accounts. .Previously, Twitter had submitted before Justice Dixit that blocking orders issued by the Central government must contain reasons that are communicated to users of the social media platform.It was also contended that the Centre was not empowered to issue general orders calling for the blocking of social media accounts..In its petition filed before the High Court, Twitter contended that account-level blocking is a disproportionate measure and violates the rights of users under the Constitution.Out of a total of 1,474 accounts and 175 tweets, Twitter has challenged the blocking of only 39 URLs.The petition stated that the orders in question are manifestly arbitrary, and procedurally and substantively not in consonance with Section 69A of the IT Act..Further, they fail to comply with the procedures and safeguards prescribed by the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 (Blocking Rules), it was submitted.Twitter also argued that the direction to block entire accounts falls afoul of Section 69A of the IT Act..The Central government, on the other hand, submitted in its response that the directions to block certain Twitter accounts were issued in national and public interest and to prevent incidents of lynching and mob violence.The government emphasised that it is committed to providing an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet to its citizens, and that its powers to block information has a limited scope..[Read our live coverage of today's hearing here]