Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud addresses the 14th VM Tarkunde Memorial Lecture in Delhi
New Delhi:
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressed concerns about the overwhelming amount of false information on social media platforms due to troll armies and organized disinformation campaigns.
He stated, “Traditionally, freedom of speech and expression was considered essential for civil rights activism to avoid government censorship. However, with the rise of troll armies and organized disinformation campaigns on social media, the fear is that truth is being distorted.”
Chief Justice Chandrachud highlighted the need for new theoretical frameworks to address free speech on the internet, citing a New York Times article from 2020 which stated that the spreading of falsehoods aims to prevent genuine battles of ideas.
He also discussed the ongoing debate within Indian jurisprudence regarding the relationship between state surveillance and an individual’s right to privacy. Chief Justice Chandrachud referenced the first case dealing with privacy, R Rajagopal vs State of Tamil Nadu, where the court upheld the magazine’s right to publish an autobiography by a prisoner without the prisoner’s consent, emphasizing the delicate balance between press freedom and the right to privacy.
Speaking about Justice Tarkunde, he noted that the core values of the civil liberties movement championed by Justice Tarkunde are reflected in today’s digital rights activism. He also expressed how Justice Tarkunde’s dedication to civil liberties continues to inspire him.
Chief Justice Chandrachud acknowledged Justice Tarkunde’s significant role as a staunch advocate for personal liberty and democracy during the 1970s internal emergency, both inside and outside the courtroom.
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