Supreme Court issues notice in plea against social media accounts involved in online trade of illicit content, revenge porn

The Supreme Court today issued notice on a PIL seeking action against social media users indulging and dealing with explicit or graphic content and rape videos online..The petition was filed by two law students after their representation highlighting these issues made to the Government's cybercrime wing did not receive any response..PIL in Supreme Court seeks action against social media accounts involved in online trade of illicit content, revenge porn etc..The petition prays for an efficient mechanism to be set in place to deal with such content in the future, as well as for appropriate laws to formulated for greater accountability of intermediary platforms..Further, the laws must ensure there is a system and mechanism in place for the verification of social media profiles to enable the weeding out of fake and catfish profiles that primarily engage in such activities, the plea says..Additionally, the plea voices concern over the mushrooming of online profiles and accounts which engage specifically in trading and dealing with illicit and graphic content and which engage in the circulation of revenge porn etc. These accounts get high engagement from other accounts garnering more traction, thereby making it important to curb the same, it is said. ."These accounts are getting endorsed on troll and meme pages which have huge following and thus are being accessed by 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.".Apart from these, it is prayed that the authorities be directed to lay down a suitable framework to regulate the access to internet for minors.