The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to prepare a draft mechanism for screening user-generated content before it is uploaded on social media, noting its potential to trigger unrest even before authorities can act, a Times of India report stated today.

The directive came during a hearing where the bench highlighted the speed at which harmful content spreads and the current statutory vacuum in regulating such posts.

According to the court, the concern is not about curbing free speech but introducing a reasonable, preventive framework. The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that while the right to freedom of speech is vital, it is a regulated right and cannot remain unchecked in a digital environment where objectionable or misleading content can go viral within minutes.

While associations representing broadcasters and OTT platforms argued that their self-regulatory codes were adequate, the bench questioned their efficacy, pointing out that such content continued to appear online.

The ToI report added court has given the I&B Ministry four weeks to draft and publicise the proposed guidelines, inviting objections and suggestions from the public.