Supreme Court slams unregulated online content, seeks urgent response from Centre

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the current situation, where anything can be uploaded on online platforms, people can be insulted, obscene content can be posted, and no one is held accountable, cannot be allowed to continue. The apex court also sought the Centre’s urgent response regarding the matter.

The court was hearing a plea to quash the FIR filed against comedians, including Samay Raina, for mocking persons with disabilities in the YouTube show 'India’s Got Latent.' Lashing out at the comedians, the court directed them to conduct two shows every month to raise funds for the treatment and welfare of persons with disabilities.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, said that as soon as a mobile phone is switched on, unwanted content appears without consent. A free and independent regulatory body is needed to decide what should be allowed and what should not. The court added that a responsible society must be built, and that would resolve many problems.

"Millions of people are victims of trolling and ridicule on YouTube and other platforms. What remedies do those who are insulted have? Will content creators take responsibility? By the time authorities intervene, even obscene content becomes viral,” the bench observed.

Age should be verified using Aadhaar

The court suggested that users should be allowed to access certain content only after age verification. It asked the Centre whether Aadhaar numbers could be used to verify age. A committee of experts from different fields, including the judiciary and media, could be formed for this. It can be tested on a trial basis first. If it affects freedom of speech and expression, the issue can be reconsidered later.

Guidelines being finalised

The Supreme Court said there should be a law to take action against those who insult persons with disabilities. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta criticised the YouTubers, stating that humour should not destroy a person’s dignity. Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the court that new guidelines to regulate online platforms are being finalised. Recording these submissions, the court adjourned the matter for four weeks. It also considered a petition filed by Cure SMA India Foundation seeking protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.