The Union government has assured a parliamentary panel that it is examining existing legal provisions to determine potential amendments aimed at regulating vulgar and obscene content on online media platforms.

This assurance was given in response to a request from the standing committee on communication, information, and technology, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. The committee had approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), seeking its inputs on content regulation in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, particularly on social media and live-streaming platforms like YouTube.

In the second week of February, the committee chairman had written to the government, urging a response from the ministry by February 20. In its reply, the I&B ministry acknowledged the concerns raised by the panel, citing past instances where regulatory bodies such as the National Commission for Women and various high courts, including the Supreme Court, were approached to address similar concerns.

Recognizing public demand for a more stringent and effective legal framework to curb harmful content, the government informed the committee, stating, “This ministry has taken note of these developments and is in the process of examining current statutory provisions and the need for a new legal framework.”

The committee had previously highlighted controversial remarks made by popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, which sparked widespread debate on social media. MPs Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sasmit Patra from BJD urged the committee to address the issue urgently. In response, the chairman sought to build consensus among members across political lines, acknowledging the broad public interest in such matters.

While members of the committee agreed on the necessity of content regulation, several argued that amendments to existing laws should be prioritized over introducing new legislation. The panel emphasized that the focus should be on effective implementation rather than the creation of additional legal provisions.

The government’s ongoing review signals a potential shift in policy to bring online content under stricter scrutiny, aligning with broader concerns over digital media regulation in India.