Supreme Court Directs Government to Regulate Social Media Conduct and Podcast Guidelines

The Supreme Court has instructed the government to develop guidelines to regulate conduct on social media platforms, including podcasts and online comedy. This directive follows a case involving comedians Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Nishant Jagdsish Tanwar, and Sonali Thakkar, who were asked to apologize for insensitive remarks against people with disabilities. The court emphasized the need for a regulatory framework that balances freedom of expression with the right to dignity, as guaranteed by Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The guidelines, which are to be formulated in consultation with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), must consider future challenges and protect the rights of all citizens. The court has scheduled the next hearing for November, giving the government time to present the draft guidelines. Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi highlighted the importance of responsible content creation, particularly in the context of a diverse society.