In New Delhi on Thursday, the Supreme Court expressed serious worry about the growing flow of unregulated content on social media platforms, especially YouTube. The court said that while millions of users can upload videos almost instantly, there is very little accountability for what gets published. The remarks were made during a hearing linked to the India’s Got Latent case, which recently put several well-known YouTubers, including Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay Raina, under public and legal attention.
Chief Justice Surya Kant said that the ease with which anyone can start a channel and reach a huge audience has raised new challenges that cannot be ignored anymore. He pointed out that harmful, misleading or inappropriate videos often spread very quickly, and by the time authorities step in, the damage is already done. According to him, there must be someone who takes clear responsibility for such content.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that the problem was not just about obscene material. He told the bench that disturbing, distorted and misleading content was spreading widely and that freedom of speech cannot be used to promote what he called “perversity.” He added that the issue had become more complicated because objectionable videos travel across platforms within minutes. 
Justice Joymalya Bagchi, who was also on the bench, raised concerns about content that could be viewed as anti-national. He questioned who should be held answerable when videos challenge basic facts or spread false claims about the country. He noted that the speed of online circulation makes regulation even harder.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for a professor with disabilities seeking to raise certain concerns, warned that casually branding content as “anti-national” could be dangerous. But the bench said the situation was complicated, giving examples of videos that make incorrect claims about the territorial integrity of India.
The court suggested that the country may need an independent body that can regulate user-generated content in a balanced way. The judges said such a body should include experts from different areas, so that decisions are made with proper understanding of technology, media, and social impact. The Chief Justice also mentioned that ideas like stronger age-verification tools and clearer warnings on sensitive content could help viewers know what they are watching before they click.
The bench questioned the Centre about why objectionable videos continue to appear even though monitoring systems already exist. The government has now been given four weeks to come up with proposals for a new and improved regulatory system that deals specifically with user-generated content.
During the hearing, the court also discussed the case involving comedian Samay Raina, who faced criticism for remarks that offended persons with disabilities. Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, representing an organisation working with people affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy, said that such comments deeply hurt individuals who already face daily struggles. She said that while Raina had deposited money as compensation, the community cared more about respect and dignity than financial relief.
The Chief Justice said the government could consider bringing in a stronger law to prevent such behaviour, similar to the legal protections provided under the SC/ST Act. Mehta agreed that comedy should not be used in a way that harms the dignity of any individual or community.
