Anupam Mittal calls Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina 'victims', blames Youtube for sharing viral content, says, "India's Got Latent wasn’t Satyamev Jayate"

Amidst this controversy, Anupam Mittal, a prominent entrepreneur and judge on Shark Tank India Season 4, has spoken out about the broader issue at play.

His comments are a sharp critique of not just the individuals involved but also of social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, which he believes bear a significant part of the responsibility for promoting such content.

Anupam Mittal shared his views in a post on LinkedIn, where he called for more accountability from social media platforms.

He remarked, "Summon YouTube to the High Court too, not just Ranveer and Apoorva," drawing attention to the role that these platforms play in spreading inappropriate content.

Mittal said in his post that India's Got Latent was ‘always about insults, vulgarity.’

He said, "India's Got Latent wasn’t some Satyamev Jayate ka lost episode, it was always about insults, vulgarity, irreverence & shock. Like it or hate it, that was the show."

Anupam said that the problem is not just about a few individuals making crass comments but about how social media platforms are designed to amplify extreme content.

"When one extreme becomes the norm, what does the algorithm do? Promotes the next level of obscenity. YouTube, Instagram, digital media, these platforms dangle virality like prasad, watch creators chase, and then step back when the fire starts," Mittal said.

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Anupam does not let the YouTubers off the hook, acknowledging that Ranveer Allahbadia and Apoorva Mukhija made serious mistakes with their comments.

However, he suggests that the focus should shift to the bigger issue of how platforms like YouTube and Instagram contribute to the spread of such content. He posed the question, “Shouldn't we move our attention to the bigger issue?” and challenged the public to think beyond the individuals involved in the controversy.

In his post, Anupam also raised concerns about the lack of proper regulation on these platforms. He questioned the social media guidelines, asking why platforms that host inappropriate content are not held accountable.

“I am shocked at the age-inappropriate content that YT keeps serving up,” Mittal shared, drawing from his personal experience as a father.

Despite having parental controls set up on YouTube for his 7-year-old, he continues to encounter content that is not suitable for children.

Anupam's criticisms of the social media giants go beyond just the content they host. He argues that these platforms operate under the protection of digital intermediary laws, which allow them to avoid being held responsible for the content uploaded by users.

He noted, “The real culprits are ‘Big-tech’ who take cover under digital intermediary laws that allow them to flout all responsibility & accountability.” In his view, these companies exploit legal loopholes to avoid taking responsibility for the content they facilitate. He draws a stark comparison between digital platforms and traditional media, such as newspapers and television. He pointed out, “Imagine a newspaper or a TV channel publishing the type of content that these platforms carry with total impunity. It would lead to a mutiny.” Anupam suggests that if traditional media were to air similar content, it would be met with outrage, but social media platforms seem to operate without the same level of scrutiny.

Talking about the case, Ranveer Allahabadia has been given a protection against arrest from the Supreme Court. Before this, the famous podcaster was reprimanded by the SC for his choice of words.roader social media phenomenon.
Taking to his LinkedIn account, Anupam Mittal stated, "Summon YouTube to the High Court too, not just Ranveer and Apoorva." He further agreed with the vulgar comments made by the YouTubers on India's Got Latent and mentioned how it is "totally unacceptable in any civilized society." However, he further spoke about the show's theme and wrote, "India's Got Latent wasn’t some Satyamev Jayate ka lost episode > it was always about insults, vulgarity, irreverence & shock. Like it or hate it, that was the show."

Shedding light on the broader perspective of the controversy, the Shark Tank India 4 judge stated how the controversy is not about the individuals but related to social media platforms who are surviving on the outrage. He said, "When one extreme becomes the norm, what does the algorithm do? Promotes the next level of obscenity." He called out the social media platforms and YouTube in his post.

The entrepreneur emphasised, "YouTube, Instagram, digital media, these platforms dangle virality like prasad, watch creators chase, and then step back when the fire starts. Ranveer and Apoorva messed up, real bad, and apologized. Shouldn't we move our attention to the bigger issue?"
He raised questions on social media for their guidelines and asked why the platforms airing such content are not held accountable. Sharing his personal experience of utilising YouTube, he revealed how despite putting parental controls on YouTube for his 7-year-old. He continued, "I am shocked at the age-inappropriate content that YT keeps serving up."

Anupam further called Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Mukhija and Samay Raina 'victims' and added, "The real culprits are ‘Big-tech’ who take cover under digital intermediary laws that allow them to flout all responsibility & accountability. Imagine a newspaper or a tv channel publishing the type of content that these platforms carry with total impunity. It would lead to a mutiny."

Ever since Ranveer Allahbadia passed an inappropriate comment on India's Got Latent, several FIRs against him have been filed in Assam, Mumbai and Jaipur. He has also been summoned by the Supreme Court. Following the controversy, Samay Raina pulled down all the episodes of India's Got Latent from YouTube.