'India's Got Latent' Row : Need To Do Something To Regulate Obscene Content Online, Says Supreme Court; Seeks Union's Views

In the wake of the controversy over "India's Got Latent" show, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 18) expressed its intention to do something to regulate obscene content on YouTube and other social media, and asked the Union Government about its views.

The Court said that it would be "very happy" if the Government did something on its own. In any case, it said that it is not going to leave the issue and "would like to do something".

Expressing the above, the Court called for the assistance of Attorney General for India R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to tackle the "vacuum" in the regulation of online content.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh conveyed these thoughts to Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, soon after it issued notice on the petition filed by YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia against the FIRs registered for obscenity.

Even though the Court granted interim protection to Allahabadia from arrest, it severely criticized him for the kind of language he used in the show. Union Government is also a respondent in Allahabadia's petition, to whom notice has been issued.

While asking ASG Bhati to convey the Court's message to the AG and the SG, Justice Kant told her about the Allahabadia case and raised concerns about lack of regulation of online content.

"There was this case of Youtubers...Union of India is a party...we would like to do something. If Government of India will willingly do it, we will be very happy. Otherwise, we are not going to leave this vacuum and this [...] area... the way it is being misused by so-called YouTube channels and all these things are going on...We have issued notice. So please request the Attorney General and the Solicitor General to be here on the next date of hearing. We would like to do something. We may not overlook the importance and sensitivity of the issue", said the judge.

For a detailed report on the proceedings in Allahabadia's case, click here.

Case Title: RANVEER GAUTAM ALLAHABADIA Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS., W.P.(Crl.) No. 83/2025