Questionable Failure & Intent

The Supreme Court of India is slated to hear a petition seeking to stem the unchecked proliferation of sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms.

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The plea has sought the constitution of a National Content Control Authority to regulate such material. It has even gone on to ask for interim measures such as halting access to non-compliant platforms. Prima facie, to some, the plea may seem to be emanating from a quaint idea of morality that infringes upon the right to free speech and expression. However, law, and even rights, need to be viewed in terms of the ground realities of the society they are meant to serve. In present times, the adverse impacts of social media usage and content on children are visible and well-documented. There is no denying that these platforms are playing with the psyche of tender-age children. The absence of robust regulatory frameworks is a result of, more than anything else, the big business involved in the operation of tech giants.