{"id":63077,"date":"2025-12-31T19:48:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T14:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=63077"},"modified":"2025-12-31T19:51:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T14:21:00","slug":"block-obscene-content-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/31-12-2025\/block-obscene-content-social-media","title":{"rendered":"Ministry tells Social Media Platforms to Block Obscene Content"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity and Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government has issued a <strong>fresh advisory to social media platforms<\/strong> to be stricter in <strong>taking down obscene, vulgar, pornographic <\/strong>and other illegal content from their platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reason:<\/strong> The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has repeatedly received complaints that certain content circulating online does not comply with laws on decency and obscenity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under the IT Rules, 2021, platforms are required to make \u201creasonable efforts\u201d to ensure that users do not upload or share content that is obscene, pornographic or illegal.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advisory:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>MeitY asked platforms to ensure that users have <strong>easy access to reporting and grievance redressal systems.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Large social media platforms,<\/strong> in particular, have been told to use automated and technology-based tools to proactively prevent such content from spreading and to ensure faster takedowns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>24-hour Takedown Rule: <\/strong>Platforms must remove or disable access to material that is \u201cprima facie\u201d sexual in nature, including impersonation, within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Non-compliance with the provisions<\/strong> of the IT Act and\/or the IT Rules, 2021 may result in consequences, including prosecution under the IT Act, BNS, and other applicable criminal laws, against the intermediaries, platforms and their users,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Digital content censorship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Digital content censorship refers to the<strong> control of online content by governments, organizations, or other entities.<\/strong> This includes:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>blocking websites and apps;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>removal of social media content;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>regulation of OTT (Over-The-Top) streaming platforms;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>restrictions on digital news and journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need for the Censorship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Curbing Misinformation and Fake News: <\/strong>Prevents rapid spread of rumours that can trigger mob violence, panic, and public disorder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Controlling Hate Speech and Communal Content: <\/strong>Essential to stop content that fuels communal tensions, incites violence, or threatens social harmony.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Groups:<\/strong> Restricts access to harmful, explicit, violent, or manipulative content that can exploit minors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Loopholes in Platform Accountability: <\/strong>Social media platforms delay content moderation, lack transparency, and often evade responsibility due to weak enforcement mechanisms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Preventing Cybercrimes:<\/strong> Blocks websites and content related to child pornography, trafficking, drug markets, or illegal financial activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Addressing AI Threats and Deepfakes:<\/strong> Necessary to regulate AI-generated fake videos\/photos that can damage reputations, distort democratic processes, and mislead citizens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legal Framework Governing Digital Censorship in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Right to Freedom of Speech (Article 19(1)(a)): <\/strong>\u00a0Subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) concerning decency, morality, and public order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000<\/strong>: Section 69A grants the government power to block online content for security or public order concerns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Intermediary Guidelines &amp; Digital Media Ethics Code, 2021: <\/strong>Regulates social media, OTT platforms, and digital news media.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Self-Regulation by OTT Platforms: <\/strong>Platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime follow self-regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Publishers Content Grievances Council (DPCGC).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Central Board of Film Certification (&#8220;CBFC&#8221;)<\/strong>, which was established by the Cinematographic Act, of 1952, is responsible for censoring movies in India.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges in Digital Censorship in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Balancing Freedom of Speech &amp; Regulation<\/strong>: Over-regulation can suppress creativity, while under-regulation can spread harmful content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transparency &amp; Accountability:<\/strong> Content moderation and censorship decisions often lack clear guidelines, raising concerns about misuse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jurisdictional Issues: <\/strong>Many digital platforms operate from outside India, making enforcement difficult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological Advancements: <\/strong>The rapid evolution of digital media complicates consistent and fair regulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ethical Concerns:<\/strong> The subjective nature of obscenity laws can lead to arbitrary censorship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enhancing Transparency in Content Moderation<\/strong>: Digital platforms should publish periodic transparency reports on content takedowns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Encouraging Digital Literacy:<\/strong> Educating citizens to identify fake news rather than enforcing restrictive censorship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public Consultation in Policymaking<\/strong>: Involving journalists, legal experts, and civil society in framing digital content regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The government has issued a fresh advisory to social media platforms to be stricter in taking down obscene, vulgar, pornographic and other illegal content from their platforms.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Reason: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has repeatedly received complaints that certain content circulating online does not comply with laws on decency and obscenity. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Under the IT Rules, 2021, platforms are required to make \u201creasonable efforts\u201d to ensure that users do not upload or share content that is obscene, pornographic or illegal.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">MeitY asked platforms to ensure that users have easy access to reporting and grievance redressal systems.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/31-12-2025\/block-obscene-content-social-media\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63077"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63077\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63080,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63077\/revisions\/63080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}