Act on obscene, unlawful content or face action: Govt to online platforms

Platforms told to review compliance frameworks immediately

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

The Centre has issued a fresh warning to online platforms, particularly social media intermediaries, cautioning them of legal action if they fail to act against obscene, vulgar, pornographic, paedophilic and other unlawful content hosted on their services.

In an advisory dated December 29, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said intermediaries must immediately review their compliance frameworks and strengthen action against prohibited content. The ministry said failure to do so could invite prosecution under applicable laws.

“Intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, are reminded that they are statutorily obligated under Section 79 of the IT Act to observe due diligence as a condition for availing exemption from liability in respect of third-party information uploaded, published, hosted, shared or transmitted on or through their platforms," the advisory stated.