April 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, expressed gratitude as the Hon’ble President of India has approved the introduction of his Private Member Bill — The Online Hate Speech (Prevention) Bill, 2024 in Parliament.
He emphasized that this legislation is the need of the hour, as the current legal framework governing hate speech is largely based on the Information Technology Act, 2000 — enacted at a time when social media platforms did not even exist — and is therefore inadequate to address the evolving and complex nature of online hate speech.
Dr. Sahney said that Hate speech have become the order of the day on various social media platforms, some people are posting hate content attributing to various religions or communities without any sense of responsibility or accountability
Highlighting the key provisions of the bill, Dr. Sahney stated that the Bill introduces a comprehensive and robust mechanism to curb online hate speech through real-time or time-bound removal of harmful content, stronger accountability of online platforms, AI-based monitoring systems, and user verification to curb anonymous misuse.
It also proposes strict penalties for offenders, including fines for platforms and punitive action against individuals, while ensuring that freedom of speech is safeguarded through clearly defined exemptions for genuine academic, journalistic, and artistic expression.
Dr. Sahney informed that the Bill further provides for institutional mechanisms such as an adjudicating authority and appellate tribunal, mandates transparency reporting by platforms.
Dr. Sahney expressed hope that the Bill will soon become law, paving the way for a safer, more responsible digital ecosystem and reinforcing India’s commitment to zero tolerance towards hate speech, especially on social media.
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