Digital India Bill: Stricter Regulations on Obscene Content, Government to Monitor Social Media

New Delhi, 20th February 2025: Ranveer Allahbadia has recently been accused of making indecent and vulgar comments about parents on Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent. Since then, multiple FIRs have been filed against Ranveer Allahbadia, and the situation immediately got out of hand and reached the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the Supreme Court has questioned the government regarding the growing spread of obscene content on social media. In response, the government has accelerated its work on the proposed Digital India Bill.

To curb and control obscene content on social media platforms, the government is planning to replace the existing IT Act with the Digital India Bill. The new law will contain provisions to regulate YouTubers, digital media platforms, and social media users. Notably, the government has been working on this bill for about 15 months. The bill will introduce specific provisions for different sectors, covering areas like telecommunications, information technology, and information
& broadcasting.

As Ranveer Allahabadia’s case continues to progress, the government has once again intensified its efforts on the new Digital India Bill. However, AI governance will be handled separately, as it requires a distinct regulatory framework. The government is under immense pressure to provide a satisfactory response to the Supreme Court as the government needs to outline the measures being taken to address the loopholes that exist in the current IT Act.

Over 90 Crore Social Media Users

The IT Act of 2000 has become quite outdated now as when it was introduced, India had only 60 lakh internet users. However, today India has over 90 crore internet users.

What is the Digital India Act?

The Digital India Act (DIA) is a proposed law that will replace the Information Technology Act (IT Act) of 2000. The DIA will govern India’s digital space, covering areas such as cybersecurity, digital governance, and online safety.

Key Features of the Digital India Act (DIA)

Online Safety: DIA will protect citizens’ rights in digital spaces by addressing online harm, de-platforming, doxxing, and social media algorithms.
Data Protection: It will work alongside other data-related laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Cybersecurity: The Act aims to tackle cybersecurity challenges and safeguard against data breaches.

Challenges Ahead

Privacy Concerns: Critics argue that DIA could grant excessive surveillance powers to the government, potentially violating privacy rights.
Data Localization: DIA’s approach to data localization may restrict cross-border data flow, which could impact global businesses.