Cyber Crime
Delhi High Court Demands SOP Details from Meta ( Facebook) and Google on Sharing Information with Police for Investigations
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed major social media platforms, including Meta and Google , to provide a detailed account of their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when law enforcement agencies request information. This order was issued in relation to petitions concerning missing persons, where the court questioned the platforms’ cooperation in such cases.
During the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by the parents of a missing boy, the court of Justice Pratibha M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma instructed the platforms to submit their process details, explaining how they handle requests from law enforcement agencies regarding locating missing individuals. The court observed that there is often a significant delay between the police requesting information and the platforms’ responses, which hinders the investigation process.
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The court emphasized the need for social media platforms to adhere to strict timelines when providing such information. It also highlighted the importance of investigating authorities posting such requests on relevant portals, monitoring them, and being informed about how to download requested data from the platforms.
The case emerged after Delhi Police received information regarding a missing boy’s online activity. They had written to Meta requesting details about the boy’s i-mail, Instagram account information, phone number, location, and IP addresses linked to the device used. However, Meta failed to provide this information in a timely manner.
The next hearing for the case has been scheduled for October 8.
Additionally, the court ordered major social media platforms, including Google, Meta, WhatsApp, Telegram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit, to maintain proper records of their procedures for complying with law enforcement agencies’ requests. The platforms have been instructed to outline their entire process, known as their Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs), ensuring that these are properly documented and followed.