Centre ‘studying’ legal provisions to regulate obscene digital content

Amid an advisory to OTT platforms against transmitting obscene content, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said that there is a need to revisit the existing laws on the subject.

The admission was made before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology this week.

Making a deposition before the panel, the ministry said it was in the process of reviewing existing statutory provisions and considering requirements for a reworked legal framework on regulation of harmful content on digital platforms.

The move follows the controversy over vulgar remarks made by YouTube influencer Ranveer Allahbadia during a show on the digital platform. The Supreme Court had issued directions on the regulation of such content.

Presenting its stand to the panel, which took up the agenda this week, the ministry cited growing social concerns around freedom of expression being misused to peddle obscene, vulgar, violent content on digital platforms.

It said certain provisions existed in the current laws but equally there was a growing chorus for a stricter and more effective legal framework on social media content.

“This ministry has taken note of these developments and is in process of examining current statutory provisions and need for a new legal framework,” said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting representatives citing directions of the SC and several high courts on the issue besides references by parliamentarians and the National Commission for Women.

Allahbadia is facing criminal cases in Assam and Maharashtra for his remarks that were pulled off YouTube.

The SC this week stayed fresh FIRs against the influencers while castigating his remarks as “perverted”.

Even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ruling BJP’s parent body, has been demanding fresh legislation to regulate OTT platforms. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had, in his Vijayadashami address on October 12 last year, called for an urgent legislation to regulate OTT content.