Government Pushes for Stricter Laws on 'Vulgar' Social Media and OTT Content

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw calls for consensus on strengthening regulations to address cultural concerns and unchecked online content.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the need to tighten existing laws to curb 'vulgar' content on social media and OTT platforms.
He highlighted the absence of traditional editorial checks in online platforms, which has led to the proliferation of inappropriate material.
The minister urged the parliamentary standing committee to address this issue and achieve societal consensus on stricter regulations.
Existing IT Rules already prohibit illegal content and mandate age-appropriate classifications, but 18 platforms were blocked earlier this year for violating these rules.
The government has faced ongoing challenges balancing freedom of expression with cultural sensitivities, as foreign platforms often operate under differing cultural norms.