The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has warned TV channels against showing blood and gore, violent and distressing visuals in the name of viral footage taken from social media sites. In a circular, the I&B Ministry has cautioned TV channels to refrain from showing distressful visuals that have violent and gory content.
According to the order, media outlets should exercise caution when showing images or videos of accidents and violent crimes. The Ministry noted that several instances of dead bodies, plasma crime scenes, and footage of people being beaten mercilessly, including women, children, and the elderly, have recently been aired on national TV channels. It cited the ‘viral video’ of a child being beaten by his teacher, which was shown on a loop without blurring or showing long-distance shots. The ministry also stated that the manner of commentary and reporting in many such cases has been distasteful and distressing for the audience.
The Ministry stated that such visuals, without the necessary warning and blurring, can be quite distressful for the audience and can have an adverse psychological impact on children, not to mention the crucial issue of violation of the privacy of the individuals involved.
It added that television is a platform that is watched by families in a household with people from all age groups and various socio-economic backgrounds. It noted that social media videos are being taken and broadcast without necessary editorial discretion and adherence to the programme code.