New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a public interest plea on Monday, April 28, 2025, that seeks a directive to the Centre to prohibit the streaming of sexually explicit content on OTT platforms and social media.

The plea raises concerns over the unregulated dissemination of pornographic material through social media pages and profiles, alleging that some OTT content may even contain elements of child pornography. It argues that such materials could harm young audiences, promote deviant behaviour, and contribute to a rise in crime rates.

According to the court's cause list, the matter is listed before a bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih.

The petition proposes the creation of a National Content Control Authority to monitor, regulate, and prevent the streaming of sexually explicit material. It recommends establishing a committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to oversee the certification of content published on OTT and social media platforms, functioning similarly to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) which regulates cinema.

Further, the plea requests that access to OTT and social media platforms be temporarily restricted until mechanisms are put in place to ensure the complete removal of pornographic content, especially to safeguard children and minors.

Additionally, the petition seeks the formation of a panel comprising eminent psychologists and subject experts, recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India, to conduct a comprehensive nationwide study. The study would assess the psychological and societal impact of consuming sexually explicit content, aiming to evaluate its broader effects on public mental health and societal values.

The petitioners have asserted that the easy affordability and widespread penetration of the internet has made access to explicit material readily available to people of all ages, further stressing the urgent need for regulatory action to protect public morality, safeguard vulnerable populations, and maintain societal order.