A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court urging the central government to ensure that social media platforms do not display obscene content, citing concerns over the rise in sexual offenses. The petition, initiated by pediatrician Sanjay Kulshreshtha, argues that the easy availability of obscene content via mobile internet not only incites sexual behavior but also escalates sexual crimes against minor girls.
The petition calls for the Supreme Court to direct the respondents to utilize their powers under the Information Technology (IT) Act to ensure social media platforms take appropriate measures to prevent the dissemination of obscene content. It highlights the role of the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology, Home Affairs, and Women and Child Development as stakeholders in this issue.
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The petitioner emphasizes that while there are various factors contributing to the alarming increase in rape incidents involving children, the round-the-clock availability of obscene content on mobile phones, accessible to people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds through free internet, is a significant contributor. The petition points out the presence of numerous pages on social media and some messaging apps that offer such content, which can be easily accessed by children of any age using mobile phones.
