Doctor moves HC over Facebook Account Lock over Alleged Glorification of 'Dangerous Organisations'

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court recently closed a doctor's plea against the locking of his Facebook account because allegedly his profile picture contained symbols, glorified dangerous people and organisations, or supported them.

Challenging Meta's decision to lock his Facebook profile, the petitioner, Dr. Shahin Nooreyazdan, approached the HC bench seeking to restore his account and ensure that no action is taken against him in accordance with the law and applicable statutory rules and guidelines.

The HC bench comprising Justice Sachin Datta disposed of the plea after taking into account the submission of Meta Platforms' counsel, who informed the bench that on supplying the URL of the doctor's profile, his request for restoration of the account would be duly considered as per all applicable statutory Rules.

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As per the latest media report by Live Law, Facebook notified the petitioner doctor on May 18 that his profile picture had been removed because the 'photo contained symbols, glorification or support of people and organisations that we define as dangerous'. When the doctor re-uploaded the profile picture, the account was locked stating that the account had been locked after detecting some unusual activity.

Challenging Meta's decision, the doctor filed a plea before the HC bench through Advocates Naman Joshi, Amber Tickoo, and Aakash Deep Singh. In his plea, the doctor claimed that Facebook's action was wholly arbitrary and malafide, based on vague and unsubstantiated grounds which amounted to religious or cultural profiling and discrimination.

The plea stated that the action taken by Facebook was in blatant violation of the doctor's fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Appearing on behalf of the doctor, his counsel further submitted that the allegations brought against the doctor were completely untenable and could not stand the scrutiny of the law.

After taking note of Meta's submission that the doctor's request for restoration of the account will be duly considered, the HC bench closed the plea. However, the bench also observed that if Meta Platforms declined the doctor's request, a reasoned order would be passed.

Accordingly, the HC bench comprising Justice Datta granted liberty to the doctor to take appropriate legal remedy in such an event and clarified that all the rights and remedies of the petitioner would remain open.

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