Advocate K Suthan on Monday filed a PIL in the Madras High Court asking for a pre-censorship authority for social media and OTT platforms. The Times of India first reported on the petition. Six other high courts have heard cases asking for censorship of streaming services, and those courts have largely either dismissed the cases or deferred hearing on them as a similar case is pending before the Supreme Court. Suthan's case stands out for its inclusion of user-generated content in the demanded scope for censorship. The petition prays for a censorship body like the Central Board of Film Certification for online content, whether user-generated or curated. The PIL has been filed to the central and Tamil Nadu governments, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, Zee5, Disney+ Hotstar, BigFlix, Voot, Sony LIV, MX Player, and individual media companies like BehindWoods, IndiaGlitz, Galatta, Cine Ulagam, and Tamil Little Talks. Petitioner's arguments No new YouTube channels or videos: In an extraordinary demand, the petition asks for YouTube to not allow any new video uploads or channels to be created until a law is passed to censor social media content. "It is humbly prayed that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to grant an order of Interim Injunction, restraining the 6th respondent from in manner permitting its subscribers to create a new YouTube Channel or use the existing YouTube Channel pending disposal of the above writ petition and thus render justice," the petition says. The petition also asked for all the other streaming services it named…
