1100+ Twitter accounts detained for allegedly spreading false information on Farm laws. The government is concerned about few masses eliciting violence. Now, if people are getting manipulated despite individual capabilities to decide, is debatable. Information present on social media platforms like Twitter spreads like wildfire, to an extent where the crux motive of passing the laws was derailed in entire chaos. In the current world, almost everyone has access to the internet where people endlessly scroll through, consuming content that appears on their feed. Barely do people invest efforts to read about the laws from official government websites. Fear of missing out on the viral information makes them a quick and easy victim of polarisation. On one hand, the opposition parties raise questions regarding the efficacy of laws implemented against the ruling party. While on the other hand, restrictions on Freedom of Speech mounts during protestors’ prosecution. BJP or any ruling party in history, post-independence does not have the authority to suppress the views of those who voice out their opinions against issues. But bearing in mind the exploitation of Freedom of Speech, National Security has been introduced. The Freedom of Speech is not absolute, National security allows Government to frame laws to impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency and morality, and contempt of court, defamation, and incitement to an offense. For maintaining peace and reducing the spreading of false news, the government actively puts efforts to nib the toxic bud. This specific law framed to take action against violent activities that hurt national interest isn’t a violation of Article 19 under certain conditions mentioned. Let us look at few more laws introduced by the Indian Government to maintain law and order.
- Section 69 of the IT Act allows the central government to block online content and arrest the culprits to protect national security. The intermediary platforms, which act as a medium to upload such content, shall assist and comply with the government during such matters.
- Sedition Law: Whoever in any form spreads hatred against the government intending to elicit violence by exciting disaffection towards the government shall be punishable.
- UAPA Act: The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act aims to prevent unlawful activities by both individuals and organizations that deal with terrorist activities.
The ruling parties may sometimes take undue advantage of such laws to silence the opposition. We can observe the widest exploitation of Sedition Law in a lot of protests where opposition leaders were arrested, for alleged; being accused as per Sedition Law. This kind of misuse makes one hesitant to raise a voice against government decisions.
But as per the freedom of speech, it is your right and when you are being repressed; you have the right to stand up for yourself.
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