Google and Facebook do have the right to freedom of speech and expression but they are not above the law, the Delhi High Court said on Thursday.
“They are not above the law and their rights are to be determined under the laws of the land,” Justice Suresh Kait said, hearing a petition that sought to be heard in the matter on the ground that a sanction to prosecute the websites violated his fundamental right to speech and expression.
“Nobody is against the freedom of speech and expression. In fact, despite the summoning order against the websites, neither the trial court nor this court has asked the websites to shut or restrain from functioning. They have only been summoned in accordance with the law as nobody is above it,” said the judge. The court posted the matter for February 14 for further hearing.