WhatsApp in trouble in India for 'illegal' middle finger emoji
WhatsApp is in legal trouble in India again, this time for one of its emojis. Advocate Gurmeet Singh has sent it a notice to remove the "offensive" and "illegal" middle finger emoji. If it's not done within 15 days, he has threatened to file a criminal case against the company. Earlier this year, the messaging platform was taken to court over privacy violation.
What does the advocate have to say?
Singh says showing the middle finger is "not only offensive but a highly belligerent, invasive, obscene, lewd gesture". According to him, it is also illegal: "As per IPC Sections 354 and 509, it is an offence to show obscene, lewd, offensive gestures to women." "By offering to use middle finger emoji, you [WhatsApp] are directly abetting the use of offensive, lewd, obscene gesture."
Some of the most bizarre lawsuits against companies
Different brands have faced bizarre lawsuits. Red Bull was sued for not literally "giving wings" to consumers. The mayor of Batman, a Turkish city, took Warner Bros to court, alleging they had stolen his city's name for Batman's character. An Oregon man, who beat up another with his Nike shoes, sued Nike as it hadn't warned him its shoes could be used as weapons.
