Section 66A Quashing A Victory For Internet Users: IAMAI

NEW DELHI: Applauding the Supreme Court's quashing of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, stakeholders among the internet and mobile community termed it as a "momentous victory" for the 302 million internet users in India.

"This landmark judgment strengthens the safe harbour provisions for intermediaries contained in Section 79 of the IT Act. It is specially helpful to smaller companies like Mouthshut.com who will now not be harassed by the frivolous and mal-intentioned notices of the take down," Subho Ray, president, Internet & Mobile Association of India said in a statement.

The IAMAI has over 135 members with companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, among others.

"Section 66A of the IT Act is struck down in its entirety," said the apex court bench of Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman.

"Our Constitution provides for liberty of thought, expression and belief. In a democracy, these values have to be provided within constitutional scheme. The Section 66A is vague in its entirety," said Justice Nariman while pronouncing the judgment.
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