Delhi HC Grants Time To Centre To File Response On Steps Taken To Regulate Content On Social Media & OTT Platforms

The Delhi High Court has granted time to the Centre to file its response on the steps taken to regulate content on social media and Over the Top (OTT) platforms.

The Court vide judgment dated March 06, 2023 had directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to take steps for stricter enforcement of its rules with regard to the intermediaries as notified in the IT (intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Ethics 2021.

“No report has been received yet in this regard.”, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed in an order dated April 12.

The Court directed the Standing Counsel for Union of India to accept notice on behalf of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as well as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As the Standing Counsel for Union of India sought more time to file reply, the Court posted the matter for further hearing on April 25.

“Ms. Monika Arora, learned Standing Counsel for Union of India who is present in the Court is requested to accept notice on behalf of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as well as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, being the Ministries of Government of India concerned with the issue in question. She seeks some time to file reply. Re-notify on 25.04.2023”, the Court observed.

Earlier, the Court had heavily condemned the language depicted in the web series "College Romance", and observed that it is obscenely vulgar. The Court strongly recommended that there is a need to regulate the content with vulgar language.

The Court observed that the web series shows the distortion of the languages spoken in this country in the name of changing social reality and instead projects the use of expletives, cursing, swearing, and profanity as alternative realities represented by the youth of this country which amounts to a distortion of facts.

Observing that Indian society has witnessed some social and cultural changes, which have extended to the electronic entertainment field as well, the Court held that the series ‘College Romance’ which allegedly shows the actual and real new generation cannot pass the test of public decency.

The Court had added that the Indian cinema which has now also extended to such web series and other short films etc. at social media and OTT platforms, undoubtedly is not the same as was in the old films where the romance between two persons was symbolically shown by showing two birds or flowers meeting on the screen.

Cause Title- TVF Media Labs Pvt Ltd & Ors. v. State & Anr.

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