Right to Explanation’ Needed to Know Why Social Media Content Is Imposed on the Public: Justice J.K. Maheshwari

Vijayawada, February 28:Supreme Court Judge Justice J.K. Maheshwari has underscored the need for a “Right to Explanation” to enable citizens to understand why certain content is imposed on them in the social media age. He opined that legislatures must work in this direction to ensure accountability and transparency.

Justice Maheshwari was the keynote speaker at a seminar organised jointly by C.R. Media Academy and “Swechha – The Freedom Foundation” at a local convention centre on Saturday. He called upon the present generation to prepare itself to confront the misuse and emerging challenges of social media. Rather than merely regulating users, he stressed that greater accountability must be imposed on individuals and institutions that play a primary role in content creation and dissemination.

He observed that navigating the balance between freedom and responsibility in the digital era is not solely the task of judges or legislators but a collective civic responsibility. Existing laws such as the IT Act, he noted, often come into force only after harm has occurred, such as riots being incited or reputations being damaged. He stressed the need for proactive and technologically competent institutions capable of addressing issues before damage is done.

Referring to incidents of mob violence triggered by WhatsApp rumours, Justice Maheshwari recalled that in the case of Tehseen Poonawalla vs Union of India (AIR 2018 SC 5538), the Supreme Court had to direct states to take immediate preventive measures. He raised concerns about private social media platforms regulating speech based on opaque guidelines, questioning whether such control amounts to moderation or censorship. Algorithms, he said, invisibly determine what billions of people see, believe and feel, often prioritising virality over truth, which is a matter of serious concern.

He remarked that every generation faces its own challenges, and in every era there are those who choose courage over convenience and truth over silence. The framers of the Constitution, he said, enshrined freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) with the understanding that each generation must safeguard it amid evolving technologies. Regulation, he cautioned, should not suppress freedom, nor should freedom be weaponised to undermine constitutional order.

Justice Maheshwari noted that while social media has eliminated traditional intermediaries such as editors, it has simultaneously created new algorithm-driven intermediaries. These algorithms, he pointed out, do not necessarily reflect neutrality, balance or social harmony. Addressing traditional journalists, he urged them to resist the temptation to compete with platform-driven speed, emphasising that their value lies not in virality but in verification and truth.

He commended institutions like C.R. Media Academy for not only enhancing journalistic skills but also promoting core values.

Presiding over the seminar, C.R. Media Academy Chairman Alapati Suresh Kumar said social media has empowered individuals to play a major role in information dissemination but warned against its misuse. He stressed the need to curb the targeting and harassment of women and vulnerable groups, stating that the seminar aimed to provide direction on responsible social media usage.

State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rayapati Sailaja described it as unfortunate that women are often the primary targets on social media. She said the Commission is actively taking steps to curb such misconduct. Inspector General of Police and Eagle Chief A.K. Ravi Krishna called for stronger legal measures to ensure that social media platforms function in the interest of society without undermining freedom of expression.

Advocate Raviteja Padiri, Chief of “Swechha – The Freedom Foundation,” introduced Justice Maheshwari and other dignitaries, stating that the organisation conducts such programmes in the larger interest of society. He also felicitated the chief guest and other speakers. Lawyers, journalists, prominent citizens, Amaravati farmers and law students attended the seminar in large numbers.