New Delhi: OTT/social media platforms to express concern over objectionable, obscene and indecent materials that are aired, which are also accessible to children, SC said on Monday that some regulation is required, but stopped from interfering and said that there is a legislative or executive route to address the problem.
“This is not our domain. You do something,” a bench of Justice Bra Gavai and AG Masih told SG Tushar Mehta, who assured the apex court that the government would investigate it. SG said that some regulation is already there but more is being considered.
The bench said that it would monitor the steps taken by the government and will also issue notices to various OTT and social media platforms, which have been included as parties – Netflix, Amazon Prime, Altabalji, Ulu Digital, Mubi, X Corp, Google, Meta Ink and Apple. The SC was listening to a pilot, alleging that there was no investigation on porn and pornographic materials on social media platforms available on mobile phones.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, present for the petitioners, said that the issue raised in the pilot was not unfavorable, but a real concern that needed to be addressed. Agree with him, the bench said that even nowadays even young children have access to mobile phones and they can also reach objectionable materials. “Yes, Mr. Solicitor? Do something …” The bench asked Mehta and replied that the government will soon come out with some to deal with this problem.
The bench said, “This petition creates a significant concern regarding the performance of various objectionable, obscene and pornographic materials on OTT platforms and social media. Learned Solicitor General said the material goes to the limits of distortions. He presents that some more rules are in contemplation,” the bench said.
The petitioner alleged that this irregular spread of pornographic content could have serious consequences on social values, mental health and public safety. “Uncontrolled circulation of such materials, including child pornography and softcore adult materials, has contributed to the increasing trend of crimes against women and children by negatively shaping the psychological development of young minds …. The increasing number of online vacancies including veterans like X, Instagram and Facebook has contributed to the increasing number of online vacancies, without simplicity. Prime, ulu, altu, alt (in the east, Alt Balaji), etc. continue to stream highly clear materials, some of which violate child rights and safety due to such sexually distracted materials.
