As the Government prepares to finalise the “Digital India” Bill, the Save Culture Save Bharat Foundation has called for an immediate ban on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Netflix. The foundation alleges that these platforms violate the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and other national laws by broadcasting sexually explicit content that undermines India’s cultural and moral fabric.
In a recent statement, the foundation emphasised the need for the proposed Digital India Bill to include provisions for banning platforms that propagate sexually perverted content. They urged the Government of India to enact a comprehensive Law of Ethics Code for all audio-visual platforms and to establish a National Content Control Authority with judicial or quasi-judicial powers. Their goal is to make India the world’s first nation free from sexually perverted content.
This demand comes amidst the Government’s plans to introduce the Digital India Bill, which aims to address AI-generated deepfake videos and enhance content regulation. The Save Culture, Save Bharat Foundation has provided substantial evidence that X and Netflix have become significant conduits for pornographic and obscene content, contravening several Indian laws, including the POCSO Act, the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women Act.
The foundation’s founder, Uday Mahurkar, addressed the media, accusing these platforms of facilitating easy access to pornographic material for millions of Indian children. “In the post-COVID era, children are increasingly using mobile devices for education, which unfortunately also exposes them to obscene content on X and Netflix. Pornography on an adult’s mobile is readily accessible to their children,” Mahurkar stated.
He criticised the Government’s IT Rules 2021, describing them as ineffective in controlling platforms like Netflix, which holds a co-chairperson role in the Digital Publisher Content Grievance Council (DPCGC). This council is intended to address public grievances, yet other DPCGC members, such as MUBI, also feature dedicated porn sections.
Mahurkar highlighted that the Digital India Bill should include a provision mandating the immediate ban of any platform that fails to control the dissemination of pornographic content. “The upcoming bill should be drafted with thorough stakeholder consultations and must be stronger and more impactful than previous legislation, which has provided negligible benefits,” he asserted.
The Save Culture Save Bharat Foundation’s plea underscores the urgency of stringent content regulation to safeguard India’s cultural heritage and protect its youth from the detrimental effects of sexually explicit material. As the Government moves forward with the Digital India Bill, it remains to be seen how these recommendations will be incorporated to address these pressing concerns.
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