In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to establish guidelines for social media behavior, with a particular focus on podcasts and online comedy content. The court’s directive follows a case involving comedians who were criticized for making insensitive remarks. Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi have emphasized the necessity of a regulatory framework that addresses both freedom of expression and the right to dignity. The court wants guidelines to be drafted in consultation with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), ensuring they are not a knee-jerk reaction but are designed to address future challenges. The court highlighted that humor is a part of life, but content creators must be aware of when humor crosses the line into insensitivity, especially when dealing with a diverse population and the commercialization of speech. The Attorney General for India has been instructed to submit the draft guidelines, with the next hearing set for November.
