Supreme Court Calls for Regulation of Obscene Content on YouTube, Social Media

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday raised serious concerns about the misuse of online platforms such as YouTube and social media, urging the Central government to consider regulating obscene content. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh emphasized that the court would not allow a “vacuum” in regulation as online platforms continue to be misused by some content creators.

The court’s remarks came while hearing a plea by popular podcaster and YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, who sought the clubbing of FIRs filed against him and interim protection from arrest. During the proceedings, Justice Kant stressed that the government must take action to regulate content on platforms like YouTube, or the court would step in to ensure the space is not left unregulated. “We should not overlook the importance and sensitivity of the issue,” he stated.

Justice Kant added, “There was this case of so-called YouTubers… We would like the government to take action. If the government is willing to regulate, we are happy. Otherwise, we will not leave this space unregulated the way these YouTube channels are misusing it.”

The bench was also critical of Allahabadia’s inappropriate remarks during his guest appearance on the show India’s Got Latent, calling them “extremely objectionable and insulting.” The judges remarked, “His parents would feel ashamed; society would be ashamed. There is something very dirty in his mind, which he has vomited on this program.”