Twitter foreign entity, can’t seek protection under Article 19: Centre

BENGALURU: US-based microblogging platform Twitter Inc cannot seek protection under Article 19 of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression to Indian citizens and entities, not to foreigners, the central government said Thursday in the Karnataka high court.

Twitter had approached the court, challenging a series of blocking orders issued by the Centre from February 2, 2021 to February 28, 2022. It claimed the orders are “arbitrary” as they fail to provide prior notice to the originator of the content.

For the government, additional solicitor general (South) R Sankaranarayanan submitted before the HC: “They are not entitled to protection under Article 19, as it is a foreign entity.