SC issues notice to govt on PIL against graphic content on social media

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 13

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the government on a PIL seeking action against social media users circulating explicit content, including rape videos and revenge porn.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde asked the government to respond to the PIL seeking directions for age-based control of access to social media and development of a profile verification mechanism to eliminate objectionable content on social media platforms.

Petitioners Skand Bajpai and Abhyudaya Mishra—law students from Pune – said they moved the top court after their representation to the Government’s cybercrime wing for action against such content wasn’t responded to.

Legal action should be taken against those indulging in advertising, sale and procurement of illicit content and private graphic information, they said.

Demanding an efficient mechanism to deal with such objectionable content in the future, the petitioners submitted that the authorities concerned should be directed to put in place suitable guidelines to regulate internet access for minors.

Appropriate laws be framed for greater accountability of intermediaries i.e. social media platforms, they said, adding fake and catfish profiles that primarily engage in such activities must be weeded out.

“These accounts are getting endorsed on troll and meme pages which have huge following and thus are being accessed by the public at large. They also send ‘follow requests’ to random people on social media as a means of advertisement and promotion. They have also been posting comments on the posts of public figures inviting people to subscribe to their illegal services,” the petitioners submitted.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.