Ashwini Vaishnaw calls for stricter laws to curb vulgar content on social media, OTT platforms

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday underscored the need to strengthen existing laws to address the proliferation of vulgar content on social media and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms..Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Vaishnaw highlighted how the editorial checks that once existed in traditional media have eroded in the digital age, enabling uncontrolled expression and, at times, objectionable content."This issue is undoubtedly very important. In the era of social media and OTT platforms, editorial checks have all but disappeared. While social media serves as a medium for press freedom, it also enables uncontrolled expression, often resulting in the proliferation of vulgar content. There is a clear need to strengthen the existing laws, and I would urge everyone to work towards building a consensus on this matter," he said..The Minister was responding to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Arun Govil on whether the government intends to make laws more stringent to curb misuse of digital platforms.Vaishnaw also highlighted the need for consensus building, stating that the issue requires deliberation not only within Parliament, but also across society.Urging a Parliamentary Standing Committee to take up the matter, Vaishnaw called for collaboration in shaping stricter laws that align with India's culture."There is a vast difference between the culture of our country and the cultural context of the regions where these social media apps originate. This debate is prevalent in almost every country around the world. Therefore, I urge the Parliamentary Standing Committee to address this matter and work towards building a consensus in our society, paving the way for the enactment of more stringent laws," he stated..Currently, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) under the Information Technology Act, 2000 provide for a Code of Ethics for publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms). Publishers are required not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law and to undertake age-based classification of content into 5 categories, based on general guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules.The Code also mandates OTT platforms to put in place adequate safeguards for restricting age-inappropriate content for children..The IT Rules, 2021 cast an obligation on platforms like YouTube and Facebook to make reasonable efforts to cause the user of their computer resource to not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, etc. any information which is obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, invasive of another’s privacy, insulting or harassing on the basis of gender, racially or ethnically objectionable, or that is harmful to children.