Supreme Court notice over ‘obscene content' on OTTs with ‘overreach' disclaimer
The Supreme Court on Monday observed that all Over The Top (OTT) and social media platforms have a "social responsibility" to appear before the court, as the bench was hearing a petition seeking directions to the Centre to ban the streaming of obscene online content.Sending a notice to the Centre, social media platforms and OTTs, the court observed, "Plea raises important allegations regarding objectionable obscene and indecent content on OTT platforms and social media," while adding, "The Solicitor General (SG) fairly states that content go to the extent of perversity."advertisementThe Centre submitted that certain regulations are already in place and that future regulations are also in the works.
During the hearing, SG Tushar Mehta told the bench, "Some content is perverted to an extent that even two respectable men can't sit together and watch. Condition is 18+ must not watch. But there cannot be censorship. There are some regulations in place, some are in contemplation."The petition further demanded that the court form a National Content Control Authority to oversee content regulation and frame guidelines to curb obscenity on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, etc.The bench informed the Centre that it had already told the petitioner that the matter belongs to the legislative domain.Acknowledging the Centre's submission, the court said it wants to steer clear of both the executive's and the legislature's paths. "As it is, there are already many allegations that we are encroaching on legislative and executive powers," the Supreme Court remarked once again amid a raging row over separation of powers.advertisementA week back, the Supreme Court - during a hearing on invoking Article 355 in Bengal following the Waqf violence - broke silence on the ongoing debate over the judiciary allegedly overstepping into the executive's domain.During the hearing, Justice BR Gavai said, "As it is, we are alleged of encroaching upon the parliamentary and executive functions."Justice Gavai's response came as he, along with Justice Augustine George Masih, was listening to a plea seeking directions to the Centre to impose Section 355 - Centre's duty to protect each state against external aggression and internal disturbance - in violence-hit Bengal.
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