In view of YouTube content creator Praneeth Hanumanthu’s recent arrest for making insensitive comments about a father and a daughter, the Telangana State Commission for Women issued guidelines for content creators and social media influencers, which are as follows:
Content creators should prioritize public order, basic decency and morality, as stated in Article 19 (2).
The content created by influencers or any person should not amount to the offence as per existing laws concerning the safety of women.
All content creators and influencers should be aware of the ‘reasonable restrictions’ that freedom of expression is subject to, as laid by the constitution of India.
Any content should not affect the operation of existing law or prevent the state from making any law.
No content should be defamatory towards anything/anyone or incite violence in any manner.
The sanctity of the social and secular fabric of the state should be upheld at any cost.
Passing misinformation or unverified conspiracy theories without mentioning the same would make the individual liable for prosecution.
Outraging the modesty of women, sexual harassment of any kind and inciting violence against individuals and communities are criminal offences. If influencers and content creators violate it, they will be prosecuted.
Content creators and influencers should employ their discretion when creating content in order to ensure that the sentiments of no person/community/religion/group/gender are belittled unless proven with facts.
The individual is expected to have an understanding of where to draw a line between comedy and dark comedy.
As an influencer and content creator, one should fulfil the responsibility that comes with the followers and ‘influence’ for the right cause.
