Ensure Court Videos Not Used Without Nod, SC Tells MeitY, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ensure compliance with its orders prohibiting the unauthorized recording, uploading, and circulation of audio-video recordings of court proceedings.
• A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, mandated that the government's proposed policy must include measures to act against those violating these directions.
• The SC will examine whether there is an unfettered right to use court proceedings without judicial supervision.
• An interim order from July 24 (clarified October 9, 2026) prohibits the extraction, dissemination, or hosting of audio/video recordings of judicial proceedings on digital platforms without prior permission.
• The order clarifies that recognized news outlets can report on court proceedings but are explicitly barred from utilizing audio or video clips in their reportage.

Detailed Insights:

• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted suggestions received from various High Courts and stakeholders to MeitY for the formulation of a comprehensive policy.
• Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that authorities under the concerned Intermediary Rules must immediately act to implement the court's orders in cases of breach.
• The interim prohibition specifically targets social media and any other digital platforms for the unauthorized use of court recordings.
• Advocate Prashant Bhushan suggested implementing digital watermarking and cryptographic signing for official court footage to ensure authenticity and prevent manipulation.
• The Supreme Court acknowledged the practical difficulty in preventing unauthorized extraction from live feeds, even when streamed on official channels.
• The administrative side of the Supreme Court is separately working on establishing an official, watermarked, and authenticated website for court proceedings.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY): The nodal government agency responsible for policy, promotion, and development in India's electronics and IT sectors.
• Intermediary Rules: Regulations under the Information Technology Act, 2000, that define the due diligence requirements for online platforms and service providers.
• Digital Watermarking: A technique to embed information, often for copyright or authentication, into a digital signal such as audio, video, or image files.
• Cryptographic Signing: A method using public-key cryptography to verify the authenticity and integrity of digital documents or messages.