Delhi High Court Seeks SOP From Social Media Platforms To Prevent Delay In Sharing Of Information About 'Missing Persons' With Police

The Delhi High Court has recently directed social media platforms like Google, Meta, WhatsApp and Twitter to produce their standard operating procedure (SOP) on dealing with requests of the law enforcement agencies seeking information about missing persons.

A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Amit Sharma observed that in some habeas corpus petitions, there is a “lag” between seeking of information by the police and its receipt by the social media platforms.

Noting that it has time and again requested the counsels appearing for the social media platforms to enable furnishing of the information expeditiously, the Court said,

“In order to ensure that such delay and lag does not impede the process of tracing out missing persons who are sometimes even children and minors, it is necessary that proper timelines ought to be adhered to by the concerned online platforms and their concerned officials.”

The bench also observed that it is necessary that the investigating officers (IOs) are “properly acclimatised” to the manner in which such requests have to be posted, how the portal is to be monitored and how the same is to be downloaded from the platforms in question immediately upon receipt.

The bench sought SOP from the following platforms- Google LLC, Meta India Services Private Limited, WhatsApp Application Services Private Limited, Telegram Messenger LLP, Twitter India Private Limited, Linkedin Technology Information Private Limited and Reddit Inc.

“The platforms shall place on the next date, their standard operating protocol for dealing with requests for information from law enforcement agencies including the timelines,” the bench ordered.

The court was dealing with a habeas corpus plea filed by a mother seeking direction on the Delhi Police to produce her 19 year old son who has been missing since January 10.

The Delhi Police had written to Meta Platforms on September 06 regarding some information relating to an Instagram account of the missing boy.

Advocate Tejas Karia appearing for Meta submitted that training programmes are conducted with law enforcement agencies regarding the manner in which the portal functions, the queuing up of the request and furnishing of information.

The court directed Sanjay Lao, standing counsel (criminal), to hold a meeting with the concerned police officials and to place a note stating if any challenges are being faced in the process or any training that may be required.

The matter will now be heard on October 08.

Title: SHABANA v. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS.

Click here to read order