November 28, 2024: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has called for the strengthening of laws to address the rising concern of vulgar and obscene content on social media and OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Vaishnaw emphasized that stricter regulations are essential to curb such content, particularly as these platforms lack the editorial oversight traditionally found in mainstream media.

Vaishnaw was responding to a query raised by BJP MP Arun Govil, the actor renowned for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the popular TV series Ramayana. Govil questioned the existence of a mechanism to prevent the illegal telecast of explicit and vulgar content through social media, highlighting that such content is not suitable for family viewing and goes against Indian cultural values.

In his response, Vaishnaw explained that while social media platforms provide a significant space for freedom of expression, they also lack the editorial checks that were once a cornerstone of traditional media. He pointed out that, unlike traditional media outlets, social media platforms often broadcast unchecked content, including vulgar material, leading to concerns over its impact on society.

"This is a very important issue that has been raised. In this age of social media, a lot of older democratic institutions, including the press, used to have editorial checks to ensure that what was published was correct and in line with public decency. Unfortunately, such editorial checks have ceased to exist," said Vaishnaw. "Because these checks no longer exist, social media platforms, while offering immense freedom of expression, also give rise to uncontrolled expressions that include many forms of vulgar content. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the existing laws, and I request a consensus on this matter," he added.

Govil, who is deeply concerned about the cultural impact of such content, also questioned whether the government was considering regulations to control the content coming from foreign social media platforms, which he argued were often inconsistent with Indian cultural norms.

Vaishnaw acknowledged the difference in cultural values between India and the countries where many of these social media platforms are based. He noted that similar debates are occurring worldwide as nations grapple with the challenge of regulating content in a digital age. "The culture of the countries from where these social media platforms originate is very different from ours. This is a global issue, and I urge our parliamentary standing committee to take up this matter and reach a consensus on introducing stronger laws," he said.

The call for stronger regulations comes at a time when concerns about the impact of unregulated content on social media are growing, especially with the increasing popularity of OTT platforms. The parliamentary standing committee on communications and IT, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has already selected "Emergence of OTT Platforms and Related Issues" as one of its key subjects for the 2024-25 term, signaling that discussions on this issue are set to intensify.

As the government considers ways to address this challenge, the debate over the balance between free expression and the need for cultural sensitivity remains a crucial issue for policymakers and stakeholders across the media and technology sectors.