Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday announced plans to introduce stringent laws to curb the use of offensive and vulgar language on social media.
Sharing this information, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated that the proposed legislation will target obscene and abusive speech, ensuring accountability for those who misuse online platforms.
Strict action would be taken against people found engaging in such behaviour online. The proposed legislation will also extend to public spaces, bringin
g the use of abusive language against individuals under regulatory scrutiny.
The move comes amid growing concern over the increasing misuse of language in both digital and offline environments.
The government is set to implement the Prevention of Hate Speech and Hate Crime Act, empowering authorities to take strong action against individuals who use vulgar or offensive words on social media, the Minister said.
Notably, the Law Commission has submitted recommendations to curb the rising misuse of social media.
The Minister is of the view that social media has increasingly become toxic and a platform for indecent behaviour. He stressed the need for corrective measures to protect citizens from harassment and verbal abuse. The proposed will seek to safeguard public discourse and promote responsible communication. The proposed legislation will include penalties such as fines and imprisonment for offenders.