Will make rules to regulate use of vulgar language on social media platforms: Central government to Delhi High Court

The Central government has informed the Delhi High Court that it will incorporate rules and regulations to regulate the use of 'vulgar language', 'profanity' and 'bad words' on social media platforms. .The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has filed a report in the High Court stating that it has taken note of the Court's observations in the case related to the web-series College Romance. MEITY added that regulating social media is a policy decision, and therefore, appropriate regulations will be put in place.“It is stated that it is a policy decision and having taken note of the concerns of this Court expressed through its directions, the concerned Ministry, while undertaking its regular exercise of policy making, will incorporate rules/regulations to regulate the social media platforms, intermediaries for making it safer from the use of vulgar language including profanity, bad words, etc., as per the judgment of this Court,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recorded in the order..The Court examined the status report filed by the Central government and observed that because it is a policy decision, it is sufficient compliance of the order of the Court.“This Court has been assured that the concerns of this Court expressed through the said judgment will be incorporated in the future rules and regulations which will be shortly undertaken.”.Additional Public Prosecutor Naresh Kumar Chahar appeared for the Delhi Police.Central Government Standing Counsel (CSC) Monika Arora with advocates Subhrodeep Saha and Yash Tyagi represented the Union of India. .In an order passed in March 2023, Justice Sharma had severely criticised the use of obscene and vulgar language in College Romance. The Court had said that the web-series is “obscene, profane and vulgar which will deprave and corrupt the minds of young people”. It had said in that order,"The challenge faced by our country, as faced by many other countries, for enacting appropriate law, guidelines and rules to regulate the content on social media and on OTT platforms needs urgent attention."The Bench had refused to quash the first information report (FIR) against the actors and makers of the show and directed MEITY to take steps for enforcing stricter application of its IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.The Central government was also asked to make any laws or rules as deemed appropriate, considering the observations made in the judgment..Language in TVF web series 'College Romance' obscene, vulgar; had to use earphones to watch it: Delhi High Court orders FIR.[Read Order]