Centre issues warning to social media platforms over obscene and vulgar content

Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) has warned social media platforms and online intermediatories on consequences if they fail to take stern action regarding taking down obscene, vulgar, pornographic and other illegal content across their platforms. The Centre warned these platforms in a fresh advisory dated 29 December, 2025, which was reported by news agenecy PTI.

As per the advistory, Government has asked social media companies to immediately review their compliance framework and act against the obscene and unlawful content found on their platform. Reportedly, Centre has also warned these platforms that failing to act on this content could lead to prosecution under the law of the land.

The government also reminded social media platforms about the provisions of IT Act and IT Rules 2021 which oblgate them to make reasonable efforts to ensure that users of their computer resources do not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share any information that is obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, harmful to children, or otherwise unlawful.

"Intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, are reminded that they are statutorily obligated under Section 79 of the IT Act... to observe, due diligence as a condition for availing exemption from liability in respect of third-party information uploaded, published, hosted, shared or transmitted on or through their platforms," the advisory read

"It is reiterated that non-compliance with the provisions of the IT Act and/or the IT Rules, 2021 may result in consequences, including prosecution under the IT Act, BNS, and other applicable criminal laws, against the intermediaries, platforms and their users," it added

Center has also asked intermediaries to act expeditiously in order to remove or disable access to unlawful content after receive the receipt of actual knowledge, through court orers or reasoned intimation from appropriate government or its authorised agency, and to do so strictly within the timelines prescribed under the IT Rules of 2021, PTI reported.

The advisory also notes that online platforms must undertake an immediate review of their internal compliance frameworks, content moderation practices and user enforcement mechanisms in order to ensure adherence to the provisions of the IT Act and IT Rules 2021.

What prompted the fresh government advisory?

The government in its advisory said that it has repeated received complaints from public, stakeholders and even courts regarding certain content online which does not comply with laws on decency and obscenity, Hindustan Times reported.

“These concerns have also been reflected in discussions in Parliament and proceedings before courts. In respect of certain specific instances brought to notice, the matter has also been referred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for action in accordance with law,” Meity noted