Court Videos are Not Entertainment: Supreme Court, Orders MeitY Action Against Unauthorized Uploads

The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take regulatory action against social media creators commercially exploiting live-streamed courtroom footage.

The bench reinforced that YouTubers and digital content creators must secure prior approval before downloading, editing, or circulating audio-video clips of judicial proceedings, warning that sensationalising court hearings trivialises the justice system.

Defining Unauthorized Court Clips

Under the directions issued by the top court, unauthorised court clips refer to any audio, video, or screen recordings extracted from live-streamed or archived judicial proceedings that are downloaded, edited, reposted, or monetised on social media without explicit prior legal authorisation.

The court observed that content creators frequently pull brief, out-of-context video snippets of judges and advocate exchanges. These clips are subsequently published on video-sharing platforms alongside clickbait titles, dramatic commentary, and sensational edits designed to drive user views and generate revenue.

Highlighting concerns over this trend, Justice Joymalya Bagchi remarked that judicial proceedings cannot be turned into a "24/7 entertainment channel," adding that commercial gain from court records poses a risk to the administration of justice.

Key Rules for Digital Platforms and Content Creators

To curb the misuse of court footage, the bench outlined explicit compliance rules governing judicial recordings:
• Mandatory Prior Permission: Creators, digital channels, and social media users cannot extract, modify, host, or upload court video clips without obtaining explicit consent from the Secretary General of the Supreme Court or the Registrar General of the respective High Court.

• Strict Ban on Monetisation: Downloading court footage for monetised YouTube channels, short reels, personal promotion, or entertainment content is completely banned. Court streams are provided strictly for public understanding and institutional transparency.

• Exemption for Recognized News Outlets: The restriction does not impose a gag on legitimate reporting. Recognized media organisations are permitted to report on court proceedings, provided their coverage remains fair, accurate, and free from distortion.

• Official Channel Access: Live streams and recorded archives must be accessed exclusively through official judicial portals and authorized government platforms.

• MeitY Enforcement Mandate: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been tasked with framing policy safeguards under the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines to identify, restrict, and take down non-compliant uploads across digital platforms.