SC to hear plea on BAN of explicit content on OTT

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a petition on Monday, April 28, calling for a ban on sexually explicit content available on

OTT platforms

and social media. As per the court’s cause list, the matter will be taken up by a bench comprising Justices B. R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih.
According to reports on lawchakra.com, the petitioners have urged the apex court to direct the Centre to establish a National Content Control Authority aimed at regulating and preventing the display of pornographic and sexually explicit material online. They argue that the absence of strict rules has led to widespread sharing of explicit material online and allege that certain OTT platforms are broadcasting content that could amount to '

child pornography

'.
The plea states, “Such sexually deviant material pollutes the minds of youth, children, and even grown-up persons, giving rise to perverted and unnatural sexual tendencies, thereby leading to an increase in the crime rate.” The petitioners warn that failure to regulate this content could seriously harm "societal values", negatively impact mental health, and pose risks to

public safety

.
According to the petition, despite multiple complaints and representations made to the authorities, no effective action has been taken. The petitioners argue that the government must fulfil its constitutional duty to safeguard

public morality

, protect vulnerable groups, and ensure that digital platforms do not become breeding grounds for deviant behaviour.

They also expressed concern over how easily children and young people can access explicit content without restrictions or monitoring.
In their plea, the petitioners have requested the Court to consider directing the temporary suspension of access to social media and OTT platforms until a system is put in place to block pornographic content, particularly for minors.
They have also proposed the creation of 2 special committees, one led by a retired Supreme Court judge and other experts, to screen and certify digital content — similar to the role played by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for films. The other calls for the formation of another expert committee comprising renowned psychologists recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India and other specialists.
This committee would be tasked with conducting a nationwide study on the psychological and societal effects of exposure to sexually explicit material.