{"id":74513,"date":"2025-11-22T11:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T06:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=74513"},"modified":"2025-11-22T11:30:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T06:00:28","slug":"obscenity-in-online-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/obscenity-in-online-content\/","title":{"rendered":"New Guidelines to Define Obscenity in Online Content"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Online Content Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union government has proposed new guidelines defining \u201cobscenity\u201d and other prohibited content for digital platforms under the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/it-intermediary-guidelines-and-digital-media-ethics-code-rules-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Information Technology Rules, 2021<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposal aims to introduce explicit definitions and expand the Code of Ethics to cover social media platforms, OTT streaming services, and digital news platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Background of the Proposed Amendment<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court, while hearing a case arising from a controversy surrounding comedian Samay Raina and content featuring an explicit joke, had asked the government to devise guidelines that balance <\/span><b>free speech under Article 19(1)(a)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In response, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting submitted a detailed note proposing new regulatory measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These proposals come amid rising concerns over sexual content, deepfakes, harmful speech, and digital misinformation, prompting the government to strengthen oversight of online platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Key Features of the Proposed Obscenity Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Introducing a New Definition of \u201cObscene Digital Content\u201d<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amendment seeks to explicitly define obscenity for the first time within the IT Rules. The definition incorporates elements from:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Section 67 of the IT Act,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cable TV Programme Code,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This would mark one of the most sweeping shifts in online content regulation, extending traditional broadcast-like restrictions to digital spaces.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expansion of the Code of Ethics<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposal adds a comprehensive \u201cObscenity\u201d chapter under the Code of Ethics applicable to curated content (OTT platforms) and digital news platforms. Online platforms would be required to avoid content that:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offends \u201cgood taste or decency\u201d,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depicts indecent, vulgar, suggestive, repulsive, or offensive themes,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Presents criminality as appealing,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shows visuals or words reflecting a snobbish or slandering attitude toward regional, ethnic, or linguistic groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A total of <\/span><b>17 such restrictions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are proposed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alignment with Cable Television Standards<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital rights advocates note that the government has transposed the Cable TV Programme Code, originally meant for regulated broadcast TV, onto digital platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Requirement for OTT Compliance with the Cinematograph Act<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OTT platforms may be required to ensure content is fit for \u201cpublic exhibition\u201d, similar to films certified under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although officials claim this applies only to OTTs, the draft amendment does not explicitly make this distinction.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Revival of IT Rules 9(1) and 9(3)<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rules 9(1) and 9(3), which enforce the Code of Ethics, were stayed by the Bombay High Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite this, the note seeks to revive and expand these rules, raising constitutional concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Application of the \u201cCommunity Standards Test\u201d<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court\u2019s test from <\/span><b><i>Aveek Sarkar v. State of West Bengal<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would be used to assess obscenity. Content would pass this test if:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A reasonable person with contemporary community standards does not find that it appeals to lustful or voyeuristic interests, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The content has literary, scientific, artistic, or political value.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital rights advocates, however, warn that the broad nature of the proposed rules could lead to overreach and arbitrary censorship.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Criticism<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital rights organisations have flagged several risks:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Overbroad Definitions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The proposed language could classify a wide range of content as obscenity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Executive Overreach:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Critics argue that the government is attempting to expand its regulatory powers through the IT Rules rather than parliamentary amendments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Impact on Free Speech:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ambiguous standards like \u201cgood taste\u201d may violate free speech protections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Overlap with Pending Court Cases:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Several parts of the IT Rules are already stayed or under judicial scrutiny.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Implications for Digital Platforms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If approved by the Court:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platforms will need stricter content moderation and compliance processes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OTT platforms may face film-like certification requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media platforms may need to filter content deemed indecent, vulgar, or objectionable proactively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital publishers could face increased regulatory oversight affecting news and commentary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amendment could sharply reshape India\u2019s digital content ecosystem, bringing it closer to a broadcast-style regulatory framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/government-to-propose-guidelines-defining-obscenity-in-online-content\/article70307738.ece#:~:text=The%20IT%20Rules%20already%20contain,or%20encouraging%20money%20laundering%20or\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/business\/centre-obscene-content-net-half-truths-criticism-social-public-figures-10379027\/#:~:text=The%20Centre%20is%20considering%20amendments,video%2Don%2Ddemand%20platforms.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The government has proposed amendments to the IT Rules to define obscenity in Online Content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":74517,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,3819,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-74513","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-online-content","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74513\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}