Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says stringent laws needed to curb vulgar content on social media

The government's effort to combat 'vulgar' content on social media and OTT platforms require strengthening of existing laws, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament Wednesday, declaring such to be the result of "differences between our culture and the culture of countries from these platforms come (referring obliquely to the West)".

Mr Vaishnaw was responding to a Zero Hour question by BJP MP Arun Govil about laws to check 'abusive' content online, including that on social media and available on OTT platforms.

"There is a lot of difference between the (cultural) sensitivities in our country and the countries from where these platforms come. So, I would like the Standing Committee to take up this issue... the existing law needs to be strengthened, and I request a consensus on this," he said.