The Centre has directed the online platforms, especially the social media sites, to take strict action against obscene content on their platform, warning them of legal consequences in case of failure. Earlier on December 29, in an advisory, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology asked these platforms to review their content and ensure legal action against the obscene content. The ministry emphasised that the advisory was issued after these platforms were not taking action against the unlawful content even after several warnings.
In its advisory, the ministry directed the social media platforms to follow Section 79 of the IT Act, adding that strict action will be taken in case of non-obligation. "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.
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It further stated that in case of inaction, the action will be taken under the IT Act, BNS, and other criminal laws against the platforms and the users as well. "It is reiterated that non-compliance with the provisions of the IT Act and/or the IT Rules, 2021 may result in consequences, including prosecution under the IT Act, BNS, and other applicable criminal laws, against the intermediaries, platforms and their users," it added.
The advisory also directed these platforms to not host or promote the obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content. "The intermediaries shall not permit the hosting, displaying, uploading, publication, transmission, storage, sharing of any content that is obscene, pornographic, vulgar, indecent, sexually explicit, paedophilic, or otherwise prohibited under any law for the time being in force in any manner whatsoever," the advisory said.