So, the Indian government has informed the Delhi High Court about their plans to create rules to control the use of ‘vulgar language’ on social media and OTT platforms. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) shared this in a report filed on August 17, addressing the court’s concerns from earlier orders.
Is nothing new for you? For us, also. The government gives warnings and then becomes soft. This has continued for a while without any solid steps.
MeitY mentioned that it takes the court’s observations seriously as part of its efforts to create rules for a safe online environment. The High Court had previously pointed out the need for regulations on content for social media and streaming platforms.
The matter in question revolves around the web series “College Romance,” which was streamed on platforms like SonyLIV, YouTube, and TVFPlay. Legal proceedings were initiated against the show’s director and actor back in 2019 under the Information Technology Act.
After a series of legal steps, the Delhi High Court upheld an order against the show’s creators but didn’t demand their arrest. The court expressed concerns about explicit language in the show, emphasizing the significant impact of online platforms on various age groups, including children.
Interestingly, the Supreme Court also cautioned against posting abusive or vulgar content on social media and OTT platforms. This follows the Information and Broadcasting Minister’s earlier statement about not accepting explicit content in the name of creativity.
In July, there were reports that streaming giants like Netflix and Disney were told to review content for obscenity and violence before premiering it online. This is all part of a broader effort to ensure responsible content on these platforms.