In response to the Delhi High Court’s earlier direction, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has been granted additional time to update the court on its progress towards regulating content on social media and over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The court had instructed MEITY to enforce stricter rules for intermediaries, in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and to enact further legislation as necessary.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma issued an order on April 12th, directing Monika Arora, Standing Counsel for the Union of India, to accept notice on behalf of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which are responsible for addressing the matter under consideration. Arora requested more time to prepare a response.
In a case before the high court, urgent attention was being given to the need for establishing rules and guidelines for regulating content on social media and over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The court emphasized the importance of addressing the use of vulgar language on these platforms, which can be accessed by young children. The court scheduled a follow-up hearing for the matter on April 25.
The high court strongly criticized the use of offensive language in the TVF web series ‘College Romance’, stating that the use of vulgar language that objectifies women as sexual objects is degrading and can make women feel victimized. The court expressed concern about the negative impact of such language on women’s dignity and well-being.
