The Centre on Tuesday said to the Supreme Court that Facebook and other social media comments on certain issues relating to public interest are not offence under section 66A of IT Act as the comments are related to freedom of speech and expression. This is a significant move by the Central government at the time when 'objectionable comments' are increasing everyday in the social media platforms.

In the recent past, the Supreme Court was hit by many PILs challenging the constitutional validity of the section 66A under IT Act which relates to the objectionable comments in social media and this allows the cyber crime police to arrest the concerned person whoever makes controversial comments but this comes under freedom of speech and expression. The Supreme Court has asked the Centre's opinion on this issue and Additional Solicitor General who appeared before the court on behalf of the government said, “Section 66A, which uses expressions like causing annoyance, inconvenience etc, essentially and intends to deal with such cyber crimes and has no relation with freedom of speech and expression.”

The Centre is also heard to have set up a panel for suggestions protecting the freedom of speech provision and preventing its misuse. In the past there were few incidents where the police have arrested Facebook and other social media users for questioning certain issues and controversial postings.

- TVR