Facebook, Google challenge summons in court

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Delhi Police on a petition filed against summons issued by a trial court to 21 websites, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and YouTube, for allegedly hosting obscene and derogatory content.

Also read: 21 sites summoned for objectionable content

Challenging a trial court order that issued summons to the websites, Facebook and Google had on Wednesday approached the high court.

Justice Suresh Kait also issued notice to Vinay Rai who had filed the petition in the trial court against the websites alleging they were hosting obscene and derogatory content.

Also read: Facebook Google to remove hate content by Feb 6

The matter will come up on Thursday for further hearing.

The magistrate of the trial court had observed that the material submitted by the complainant contained obscene pictures and derogatory articles pertaining to various Hindu gods, Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ.

The trial court had also directed the central government to take immediate appropriate steps on the objectionable content of the sites and file its report by Jan 13.