Stringent laws needed to curb vulgar content on social media, says I&B Minister

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Nov 27 called for stricter laws to curb objectionable content on social media and hoped that the Opposition would discuss the same.

“There is a lot of difference between the culture of our country and the countries from where these social media platforms have come. I hope the opposition can come on board and we can have a discussion on this.” Vaishnaw said in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament.

“I would like the Standing Committee of Parliament to take up this issue and strict laws are made regarding the same," he added.

Arun Govil, who essayed the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan', seconded Vaishnaw.

"There is a lot of content on social media, especially private players, which does not match Indian culture. There is a need for a watchdog to keep a close eye on the kind of content that is being given on various platforms," Govil said.

"There are so many private players and so many platforms that have cropped up over the past few years. With no regulations on the content, anything and everything can be seen on platforms. The young people are being misled because of this content," he added.

The government wants platforms to be more responsible for the content hosted on their sites, requiring them to take action against harmful material promptly.

The government also wants social media platforms to appoint grievance officers and set up a mechanism for addressing user complaints.

The government has urged social media platforms to be more proactive in content moderation, especially when it comes to harmful or illegal content.

It said that social media companies are expected to submit transparency reports detailing actions taken against harmful content, thus increasing accountability.

Vaishnaw has suggested that social media platforms should adopt a more self-regulatory approach, especially when it comes to preventing content that could harm the fabric of Indian society.

He said that the intent is to strike a balance between free speech and responsible content moderation.

Pertinently, Vaishnaw recently highlighted four critical challenges facing news media, calling for greater accountability and fairness from Big Tech. He listed fake news, algorithmic bias, artificial intelligence, and fair compensation as the top concerns.

Vaishnaw warned that algorithms driving digital platforms often prioritize content that maximizes engagement by amplifying sensational or divisive narratives.

He asserted this dynamic poses societal risks and necessitates solutions that balance engagement with ethical considerations.

"The rapid spread of fake news is a big threat not only to the media because it undermines trust, but it is also a big threat to democracy," the minister recently said.