Freedom of Speech and Social Media Influence: A Jurisprudential Shift in India’s Digital Age

Abstract

This paper examines the changing Indian jurisprudence on freedom of speech and expression in the context of social media. The digital age has altered how individuals speak, how opinions spread, and how governments and platforms respond. India’s courts, lawmakers, and administrative agencies have faced the task of balancing free expression, public order, privacy, and safety online. This paper uses an empirical review of secondary sources, case law analysis, and a sociological lens to explain legal and societal shifts. It traces historical and legal backgrounds, analyzes key cases such as Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, and Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, and examines regulatory frameworks like the Intermediary Guidelines, 2021 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The paper concludes with findings about the courts’ role, platform responsibilities, and the need for rights-protecting yet effective regulation.