These can be exciting times for Chinese quick video-sharing apps that have invaded cellphone customers, particularly within the Tier III and IV towns in India. But the steep rise within the reputation of apps like TikTok, Likee, Vigo Video and others has left the government in addition to citizens baffled for one easy motive: An unabated upward thrust in specific, crass and irrelevant films.

To their horror, the titillating films made on those apps have now discovered a more significant cellular-based messaging medium to deprive younger minds: Facebook-owned WhatsApp.

WhatsApp with over three hundred million customers in India has ended up the only-stop save for the flow of videos showing scantily-clad girls dancing to vulgar tunes, grownup jokes and specific “funny” messages provided by way of homely girls being created within the narrow, dingy through-lanes of small cities on such Chinese apps.

Although tech companies claim to have smart algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based totally along with human groups in the region to check objectionable content material, it’s far rapid spreading.

Both WhatsApp and TikTok went silent over queries sent to them. TikTok directed us to an vintage statement that “we’re dedicated to continuously enhancing our protection capabilities as a testament to our ongoing dedication to our customers in India”.

According to Pavan Duggal, us of a’s top cyber law expert, and a senior Supreme Court propose, the handiest way to prevent huge movement of vulgar videos on mobile programs is to address the problem of middleman legal responsibility.

“The Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 makes the transmission or ebook or inflicting to be posted or transmitted inside the digital shape – any records, that’s lascivious or which appeals to the prurient hobbies or the impact of which is generally tend to corrupt or corrupt the minds of those who are likely to look, study or hear the matter contained or embodied in it – as an offence,” informed Duggal.

However, it’s miles simplest a bailable offence and does no longer have any deterrent effect.

“The loss of any powerful prosecution underneath Section sixty seven has allowed the people to trust that they could circulate vulgar motion pictures with impunity. Hence, the duty needs to be placed on the provider companies that the moment they’ve notified approximately this offensive or vulgar films on their platforms, they’re responsibility certain to cast off the same,” Duggal informed IANS.

In Shreya Singhal v/s Union of India case in 2015, Supreme Court struck down segment 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 which provided provisions for the arrest of folks who published allegedly offensive content on the Internet, upholding freedom of expression.

According to Duggal, who’s additionally Chairman, International Commission on Cyber Security Law, the regulations imposed through the Supreme Court want to be re-appeared as the carrier vendors are misinterpreting the provisions of the said judgment.

The Madras High Court needs a ban on TikTok, saying it spoils the future of youths and minds of children.

On its part, TikTok says it has stopped allowing users under 13 years to login and create an account at the platform.

“With the help of device mastering algorithms, motion pictures can be screened as they’re posted, with objectionable content removed even earlier than a consumer reports it, in a few times.

“As a testament of our 0-tolerance policy on objectionable content, so far, we have removed over 6 million motion pictures that have violated our Terms of Use and Community Guidelines,” it adds.