Vijayawada, February 28, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice J. K. Maheshwari, who previously served as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, addressed a seminar in Vijayawada on balancing freedom of expression with regulation of social media abuse.
Organised by the CR Media Academy of Andhra Pradesh and Swetcha The Freedom Foundation, the event highlighted growing concerns over harmful content targeting individuals, including women in the state.
Justice Maheshwari emphasised that freedom of speech carries deep responsibility. He noted that while liberty allows dissent and debate, it can turn into liability when it harms others.
He pointed out the challenge posed by platform algorithms that push divisive or damaging content to maximise engagement and revenue, complicating accountability.
He urged users to exercise self-restraint and introspection, describing responsible online behaviour as a collective civic obligation involving citizens, not just lawmakers and courts.
