India Tightens Digital Censorship Amid Legal Debates

Source: The post India Tightens Digital Censorship Amid Legal Debates has been created, based on the article “The danger of a digital censor board” published in “The Hindu” on 19th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Security- Role of Media and Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges etc.

Context: The article discusses the controversy over India’s Got Latent and comments by YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia. It highlights legal issues around vulgarity, censorship laws, and growing government control over digital media. It connects this to broader political and technological changes in India.

What Does the Law Say About Vulgarity?

1. Supreme Court’s View: In Apoorva Arora v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2024), the Supreme Court ruled that foul language alone is not a crime. Only content that arouses sexual or lustful thoughts is considered obscene.
2. Ranveer Allahabadia’s Case: His remarks were crude but do not meet the legal definition of obscenity. The Supreme Court called his mind “very dirty,” but that does not make his words criminal.
3. Blocking Websites: Despite the legal position that “decency and morality” are not grounds for blocking websites under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the government has increased censorship through the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
4. Past Example: In 2021, Tandav faced criminal cases for hurting religious sentiments, forcing creators to edit scenes. The government later introduced stricter IT Rules, increasing digital censorship.

For detailed information on Control over media- old censorship on a new medium read this article here

How Has the Government Responded?

1. Condemnation from High Authorities: Chief Ministers and the Supreme Court criticized the remarks made by Ranveer Allahabadia on India’s Got Latent, with the Supreme Court labeling his mind as “dirty.”
2. Push for Broadcasting Bill: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting proposed a Broadcasting Bill to regulate digital creators like traditional media. A Parliamentary Committee, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, is pushing for stricter laws. Public outcry had slowed the bill, but recent events have revived it.

For detailed information on Social and Digital media regulations in India read this article here

What is the bigger picture behind digital censorship?

1. The government’s approach reflects a shift in India’s political economy.
2. Yamini Aiyar and Neelanjan Sircar describe this as techno-patrimonialism, where technology enables direct benefit transfers as political rewards.
3. Digital censorship aligns with this trend, restricting content that challenges power.

Question for practice:

Examine how the legal framework in India distinguishes between vulgarity and obscenity in digital media.