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The Supreme Court called a petition seeking control over “obscene and objectionable” OTT content a serious issue, especially since young children now use mobile phones.
The petition, filed by Uday Mahurkar, seeks the creation of a ‘National Content Control Authority’ to ban sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms.
SC remarks
Justice Gavai remarked that parents often hand phones to children just to keep them busy.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta said children are tech-savvy and should be directed to educational or clean entertainment sites.
He raised concern that many OTT shows feature content that is not just vulgar, but openly perverse, making it uncomfortable for families to watch together.
The government has some content regulations in place and is planning additional measures.
The Court stated that content regulation is primarily the job of the legislature and executive, not the judiciary, but it will keep the petition pending.
Mr. Mehta stressed that any regulation must balance freedom of speech with public decency.
The Court issued a notice to the Union government on the matter.
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