In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared that sharing a Google pin location as a bail condition violates the right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The court acknowledged that it had previously directed the sharing of Google pin locations in certain instances but clarified that it cannot be imposed as a bail condition. The case arose from an appeal against the conditions imposed by the Delhi High Court in a drugs case involving a Nigerian national. The Supreme Court reserved orders on the matter and it is scheduled for further hearing on July 26 [f4accc95].
This ruling by the Supreme Court highlights the importance of protecting the right to privacy, even in the context of criminal proceedings. The court's decision recognizes that sharing personal location information, such as a Google pin location, as a condition for bail infringes upon an individual's privacy rights. This ruling aligns with the broader global trend of safeguarding individuals' privacy in the digital age [f4accc95].
In a separate case, a convicted sex offender in Norway has asked the Supreme Court to declare social media access as a human right. The case involves a man who molested a minor and used the Snapchat messaging app to connect with young boys. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison and banned from using Snapchat for two years. His lawyers argue that depriving him of his account is unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights. The case raises questions about the extent to which the state can restrict access to social media platforms. A previous appeal against the ban failed, and if the Supreme Court upholds the decision, the offender could appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The ruling is expected in the coming weeks [4f9a614d].