SC suggests Aadhaar-based age verification for accessing potentially obscene online content

CJI proposes pilot mechanism for age verification; Court seeks regulations balancing rights and responsibility

- MPOST BUREAU

The Supreme Court on Thursday proposed Aadhaar-based age verification for accessing online content considered obscene, while hearing petitions linked to comedians and podcasters accused of objectionable online behaviour, reported Bar & Bench.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that current onscreen warnings may not sufficiently protect underage viewers and said platforms could be required to verify age before streaming such material.

Justice Bagchi remarked that obscenity may appear in multiple formats including books and art, but digital access raises new concerns when unwanted content appears immediately upon opening a device. CJI Kant added that warnings typically play for only a few seconds after which the programme begins, leaving viewers little time to opt out. He suggested a pilot system where platforms display a warning followed by Aadhaar-based age confirmation before the content starts.