Ashwini Vaishnaw seeks curbs on 'vulgar' social media content: 'India's culture different from the West'

File photo of Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday called for stricter laws to curb vulgar content on social media platforms, saying that India's culture is vastly different from that of the western countries.

"There is a lot of difference between the culture of our country and the countries from where these social media platforms have come ... So I would like the Standing Committee of the Parliament to take up this issue and strict laws are made regarding the same," the Information and Broadcasting minister said in lok Sabha.

He urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee to take up the issue and also called for a consensus to frame more strict laws in this regard.

Speaking during the Question Hour, Vaishnaw expressed concern over the "uncontrolled" nature of social media and the prevalence of vulgar content on these platforms.

"Earlier, there were editorial checks and it was decided whether something was right or wrong but those checks have ended. Today, social media is a platform for freedom of press but it is uncontrolled and there is vulgar content," the minister said.

He stressed on the need to make existing laws more stringent to curb vulgar content.

Vaishnaw was responding to questions by BJP member Arun Govil about existing mechanisms to check telecast of vulgar and sex-related content through social media platforms illegally.

Govil asked whether the government proposes to make the existing laws more stringent keeping in view the fact that the said laws are not much effective to stop misuse of these platforms.