A Delhi based advocated on Tuesday, sent a legal notice to popular messaging app WhatsApp, demanding that they remove the 'middle finger' emoji within 15 days from its platform.
The Indian lwayer, Gurmeet Singh described the middle finger emoji in the notice as "... not only offensive but a highly belligerent, invasive, obscene, lewd gesture."
"As per the Indian Penal Code Sections 354 and 509, it is an offence to show obscene, lewd, offensive gestures to females. Use of a led, offensive, obscene gesture by anyone is hereby illegal also as aforesaid. As per section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 showing of the middle finger is also an offence in Ireland," Gurmeet Singh stated in his notice.
"By offering to use middle finger emoji in your app, you (WhatsApp) are directly abetting the use of offensive, lewd, obscene gestures," the notice read.
The notice then went on to demand that WhatsApp removed the middle finger emoji, character or photo within 15 days from the date of the present legal notice or the advocate would pursue civil or criminal cases against the company.