Obscenity On OTT Platforms & Social Media Serious Issue, Says Supreme Court; More Regulations In Contemplation, Informs Centre

The Supreme Court on Monday (April 28) agreed to consider a plea seeking regulation of obscene content on OTT platforms and social media, observing that the issue raised serious concerns. In response, the Union Government told the Court that some more regulations are in contemplation.

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih observed that the Public Interest Litigation raised an issue of "important concern" and issued notice to the Union Government and OTT platforms Netflix, Amazon Prime, AltBalaji, Ullu Digital, Mubi, and social media platforms X Corp, Google, Meta Inc and Apple.

"Let Netflix etc. be also here, they also have social responsibility," Justice Gavai orally said. 

The bench tagged the petition with other similar pending petitions.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the matter was not an "adversarial litigation" but raised a "genuine concern." He highlighted the issue of content circulating on social media without any form of regulation or checks. At this juncture, Justice Gavai sought the stand of the Union Government. "Yes, Mr Solicitor? Do something...something legislative.." Justice Gavai told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

SG Mehta said that he also shared some of the concerns expressed by the petitioners after going through the list of programmes submitted by them. He said that obscene content was present even in some regular programmes. Some programmes are so perverted that even two respectable men cannot sit together and watch them, he said. While agreeing that there should not be censorship, SG said that some degree of regulation was necessary. "There is some regulation in place, some is in contemplation," SG said.

The bench observed in its order, "This petition raises an important concern with regard to the display of various objectionable, obscene and indecent contents on OTT platforms and social media. Learned Solicitor General fairly states that contents go to the extent of perversity. He submits that certain more regulations are in contemplation."

Journalist and former Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar was the lead petitioner. Sanjeew Newar, Sudeshna Bhattacharjya Mukherjee, Shatabdi Pande and Svati Goyal were the other petitioners. 

Recently, the Supreme Court, while hearing the Ranveer Allahabadia case, had asked the Union to consider bringing in regulations to regulate obscene and indecent contents in OTT platforms and social media.

Case Title: UDAY MAHURKAR AND ORS. Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 313/2025

Click Here To Read/Download Order