### Government's Crackdown on Obscene Content: A New Era for Social Media Regulation in India The Indian government is intensifying its scrutiny of social media platforms, urging them to take responsibility for the content shared on their sites. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a proposal for stringent regulations aimed at holding these digital platforms accountable for obscene and illegal content. This move comes in response to growing concerns over the prevalence of such content online and the perceived inaction of social media companies in moderating it effectively. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued multiple advisories warning that failure to comply with these regulations could lead to legal repercussions under the Information Technology Act and other relevant laws [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3747780-social-media-firms-face-government-crackdown-on-obscene-content]. ### Structure of the Government's Warning and Proposed Actions 1. **Legal Framework and Compliance**: - The government has emphasized the need for social media platforms to adhere to the IT Act and IT Rules, 2021, which mandate the removal of obscene and unlawful content [https://www.analyticsinsight.net/news/centre-warns-social-media-giants-act-on-obscene-content-or-face-law]. 2. **Consequences of Non-Compliance**: - Platforms that fail to act against obscene content risk losing their safe harbor protections and may face prosecution [https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/meity-warns-social-media-platforms-against-obscene-content-flags-loss-of-safe-harbour-protection-ws-l-19809004.htm]. 3. **Government's Advisory and Expectations**: - The advisory issued by MeitY calls for an immediate review of internal compliance frameworks by social media companies to ensure they are effectively moderating content [https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/centre-issues-warning-to-social-media-platforms-over-obscene-and-vulgar-content-11767106508469.html]. 4. **Focus on Specific Types of Content**: - The government has specifically highlighted the need to address obscene, pornographic, and child exploitation content, warning that failure to do so will lead to serious legal consequences [https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-warns-social-media-platforms-of-legal-consequences-over-obscene-unlawful-content-101767085298306.html]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Advisories Issued**: The government has issued multiple advisories since December 30, 2025, emphasizing the urgency of compliance from social media platforms [https://www.thedailyjagran.com/technology/meity-issues-fresh-advisory-to-social-media-platforms-on-obscene-and-unlawful-content-10289525]. - **Legal Framework**: The IT Act and IT Rules, 2021 provide the legal basis for these actions, mandating platforms to remove illegal content promptly [https://www.deccanherald.com/india/government-warns-social-media-platforms-of-strict-action-over-obscene-unlawful-content-3846968]. - **Consequences of Inaction**: The government has warned that continued non-compliance could lead to prosecution under various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita [https://www.jharkhandmirror.net/govt-warns-social-media-obscene-content]. ### Conclusion: A Call for Action and Compliance In summary, the Indian government's recent advisories signal a significant shift towards stricter regulation of social media platforms regarding obscene and unlawful content. The key points are: 1. **Urgent Compliance Required**: Social media companies must review and enhance their content moderation practices to align with legal requirements. 2. **Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance**: Failure to act could result in the loss of legal protections and potential prosecution. 3. **Focus on Specific Content Types**: The government is particularly concerned about obscene, pornographic, and child exploitation content, necessitating immediate action from platforms. The government's proactive stance aims to create a safer online environment, holding social media companies accountable for the content they host [https://www.outlookindia.com/national/act-on-obscene-unlawful-content-or-face-consequences-govts-stern-warning-to-online-platforms].