ISSN: 2578-4994
Authors: Sanjoy R
The term ‘obscenity’ is most often used in a legal context to describe expressions in terms of words, images, actions etc. but it has also linked with sexual morality of the time or otherwise taboos. Obscenity includes pornography but may also include nude dancing, sexually oriented commercial telephone messages etc. In the era of social media/internet, obscenity has increased extremely than ever. The internet user base in India has exceeded 627 million by end of 2019 in India and Internet content is completely unregulated, there is no law or regulation that requires censorship of films and shows that are streamed online on the online video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hot star etc. Though, the Supreme Court recently had issued a notice to Centre in response to a petition which was filed for seeking guidelines in order to regulate the unregulated, uncertified, pornographic, obscene, sexually explicit, vulgar and profane content on these platforms. Therefore, the question is how you would determine obscene and sexually explicit content and to control & regulate it. In this regards the need of the hour is to generate a climate for public dialogue and discussion. Also a mechanism should be developed to ensure viewer’s feedback, not only on performance but also on expectations, reservations and objections of it. Even the media/social media should play equal responsibilities with parents in creating circumstances and viable conditions that enable projection of women in a decent, dignified way and promote violence free programmes and in general, may be used for provoking thoughts on sensitive issues like sexual harassment, violence against women, denial of opportunities to girl children, reducing manliness among males by showing the relationship between aggressive behaviour and risk taking behavior among men. In this article the discussions have been bounded around the real issues of women obscenity and its legal parameters and implications from societal perspective in India.
Keywords: Obscenity; Pornography; Electronic Media; Information Technology Act, 2000; Indian Court
