Madras High Court awards Rs 50 Lakh compensation to transgender politician for defamation on YouTube
Madras High Court awards Rs 50 Lakh compensation to transgender politician for defamation on YouTube
In a significant legal victory, Apsara Reddy, a transgender entrepreneur and AIADMK spokesperson, secured a favourable judgment from the Madras High Court. The court directed YouTuber Joe Michael Praveen to pay a substantial compensation of Rs 50 lakh for producing derogatory videos targeting Apsara.
The court, in Civil Suit No. of 2022, highlighted the importance of privacy on social media platforms like YouTube and emphasized that it cannot be encroached upon. Apsara’s petition against Praveen and Google LLC (YouTube) shed light on the persistent defamation and gossip she faced since refusing to work with Praveen in 2017 during her tenure as the editor of Provogue Magazine.
Praveen’s derogatory comments, featured in at least 10 YouTube videos, questioned Apsara’s character and mocked her sex-change. The impact of these videos extended beyond virtual harassment, causing Apsara mental agony, depression, and the need for multiple counselling sessions.
Apsara also alleged that the slanderous content led to the cancellation of several important programs in which she was invited to participate. The court, after reviewing the videos, deemed the statements ‘malicious’ and ‘defamatory’, recognizing their potential to seriously impact an individual’s personal and public life.
Justice N Satish Kumar, in his order, acknowledged the severity of such statements on social media, stating, “When such statements surface, particularly on social media, like YouTube, touching upon the character, behaviour and personal life of any individual, it will have a serious impact in that particular area.”
While Apsara sought damages of Rs 1.25 crore, the court, considering various factors, including the removal of content by YouTube and Apsara relinquishing certain reliefs against Google, directed Praveen to pay Rs 50 lakh in compensation. The judgment serves as a precedent, reinforcing the need for accountability in online spaces and recognizing the impact of digital defamation on individuals.
