Karnataka Government proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under the age of 16
The Government of Karnataka has announced a proposal to ban the use of social media by children below the age of 16, marking the first such state-level initiative in India aimed at regulating minors’ digital engagement. The announcement was made by the Chief Minister during the state’s annual budget speech, stating that the measure is intended to prevent the adverse effects associated with increasing mobile phone usage among children, including concerns relating to social media addiction and unrestricted internet exposure. The timeline for implementation and the regulatory mechanism for enforcement have not been specified yet.
While the proposal has received support from policymakers concerned about digital addiction, some technology experts and child rights advocates have questioned the effectiveness of age-based bans, noting that minors may circumvent such restrictions through false identification or alternative access methods.
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Bombay High Court examines AI Platforms’ liability in Celebrity Personality Rights Case
The Bombay High Court recently raised important questions regarding the legal liability of artificial intelligence platforms that generate a celebrity’s personality without consent. During a hearing in a personality rights suit filed by actor Shilpa Shetty against more than 30 platforms, the Court examined whether such AI platforms can claim intermediary safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The Bench questioned the legitimacy of AI systems that simulate a celebrity’s conversational personality without authorisation, noting that unlike platforms hosting user-uploaded content, an AI system actively generates content that it knows is not real.
The issue highlights the regulatory gap in the recently amended Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2026. While the amendment introduces due diligence obligations for intermediaries enabling the creation or dissemination of synthetic content, the framework primarily applies to third-party content hosted on platforms. However, AI chatbots that generate personality simulations may be considered creators of first-party content, potentially placing them outside the intermediary safe harbour framework. The Court addressed concerns regarding unauthorised online commentary on ongoing judicial proceedings and directed several platforms to remove infringing content linked to the actor’s name and likeness, while allowing the petitioner to pursue further action in case of non-compliance.
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Delhi High Court Orders removal of ‘ACCKO’ Trademark for Deceptive Similarity with ‘ACKO’
The Delhi High Court, by order dated 10 February, directed the Registrar of Trade Marks to remove the trademark registration for “ACCKO”, holding that the mark is deceptively similar to the established “ACKO” brand. Justice Jyoti Singh allowed a rectification petition filed by Acko Technology and Services Pvt. Ltd. under Sections 47 and 57 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Court observed that the similarity between the two marks indicated dishonest adoption and bad faith, noting that the respondent had attempted to encash upon the goodwill and reputation built by the petitioner’s trademark.
The dispute arose from an application filed in 2017 by the respondent for the mark “ACCKO” in relation to mobile phones and accessories on a proposed-to-be-used basis. The petitioner, a digital insurance company incorporated in 2016, demonstrated extensive use and registration of the “ACKO” mark and its variants since September 2016. The Court held that the marks were visually and phonetically similar and that the mere addition of an extra letter “C” did not create a distinguishing feature. Observing that an average consumer with imperfect recollection could likely be misled into associating the respondent’s products with the petitioner, the Court concluded that the registration was liable to be cancelled and directed the Registrar to rectify the Trade Marks Register within two months.
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FIR Filed against rapper Badshah over Objectionable Content in the Song ‘Tateeree’
An FIR has been registered against rapper Badshah following allegations that his recently released Haryanvi song Tateeree contains objectionable lyrics and visuals. The complaint, filed by a resident of Panchkula, prompted Haryana Police to initiate legal action under Sections 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to obscene acts and songs. Police authorities have also issued a notice directing the singer to appear before them, and multiple teams have reportedly been deployed to conduct searches in connection with the investigation.
Following the registration of the FIR, Badshah released a public apology through a video posted on social media, stating that he did not intend to hurt the sentiments of any community. The police have indicated that, considering the possibility of the accused leaving the country, steps have been initiated to issue a Look Out Circular (LOC). The development reflects increasing scrutiny by law enforcement authorities regarding allegedly objectionable or offensive content disseminated through digital platforms and music releases.
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Karnataka High Court stays the Criminal Proceedings against DK Shivakumar over Facebook Post
The Karnataka High Court has stayed criminal proceedings initiated in 2024 against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in connection with an allegedly morphed and provocative Facebook post targeting certain leaders of the party Bharatiya Janata Party. Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav granted the interim relief while hearing the petition seeking quashing of the case and directed the State to file its response. The case arose from a post shared on the official Indian National Congress (INC) social media page during protests by BJP leaders following the January 2024 arrest of Srikanth Poojary in a riots case linked to the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition.
According to the complaint filed by the BJP’s state legal cell convenor, the post allegedly displayed images of BJP leaders holding placards which originally displayed certain text, however, the same was altered text, which was claimed to be intended to provoke enmity and damage the reputation of the leaders concerned. After police initially declined to register a case, a private complaint was filed before a judicial magistrate, who directed the police to investigate and register an FIR. The FIR invoked provisions including Sections 153A, 504, 505(2), and 464 of the Indian Penal Code. Upon hearing the plea challenging the proceedings, the High Court granted an interim stay on the criminal case and sought a response from the State authorities.
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Government Orders Halt to TV News TRP Ratings amid Israel-Iran conflict
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to immediately stop publishing Television Rating Points (TRPs) for TV news channels for four weeks, or until further orders, citing concerns over “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content” in coverage of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The government stated that such reporting could potentially create panic among the public, especially those with connections to the affected regions, and invoked Clause 24.2 of the 2014 Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, which requires rating agencies to comply with ministry directives. The temporary suspension aims to curb sensational coverage and review the situation while the conflict continues to dominate news programming.
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Delhi High Court Orders Blocking of Fake Fantasy Apps Mimicking Dream11
The Delhi High Court has ordered the blocking of several websites and mobile applications operating under names such as “Come” and “Come Sports,” after finding that they allegedly copied the trademarks, branding, and interface of the fantasy sports platform Dream11. In an interim order passed by Justice Jyoti Singh in a suit filed by Dream11’s parent company, Sporta Technologies, the Court held that the defendants had prima facie reproduced Dream11’s marks and promotional content in a manner likely to mislead users into believing that the rogue apps were associated with or endorsed by Dream11. The Court therefore restrained the operators from using Dream11’s trademarks or similar branding and directed authorities, including the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to instruct internet service providers to block access to 21 domains linked to the infringing apps.
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App Store Crackdown on IPTV Piracy During T20 World Cup
Amid the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, major app marketplaces including Google Play and Apple’s App Store removed 36 IPTV applications that were widely used to access illegal streams of live cricket matches. The apps such as XCIPTV, Televizo, IPTV Smarters Pro, VU IPTV Player, and XTV Ultra IPTV Media Player had collectively amassed over 26 million global downloads and were allegedly enabling unauthorised access to premium sports broadcasts. The takedown was part of a broader anti-piracy enforcement effort led by broadcaster JioStar, which has also blocked hundreds of piracy websites under a dynamic injunction from the Delhi High Court to curb illegal streaming and redirect viewers to authorised platforms during the tournament.
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