Policies on Social Media To Control Religious And Caste Hate Speech: Need Vs Misuse Risks.

Author(s)	Ms. Nirmala Tripathi
Country	India
Abstract	This paper examines India's social media policies to control religious and caste-based hate speech, weighing their necessity against misuse risks. With over 800 million users by 2025, platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook amplify divisive content, leading to real violence as in the 2020 Delhi riots (53 deaths). Laws such as IT Rules 2021 and Karnataka Hate Speech Bill 2025 enable swift content removal but suffer from vague definitions and selective enforcement, chilling free speech under Article 19(1)(a) per Shreya Singhal (2015). Doctrinal analysis of statutes, cases, and reports reveals enforcement bias and overreach. Reforms—precise definitions for imminent harm, contextual review, and oversight—offer balance to protect harmony without democratic harm.
Keywords	Hate speech, social media regulation, free speech, religious discrimination, caste discrimination, IT Rules 2021, Karnataka Hate Speech Bill 2025, misuse risks, doctrinal analysis
Field	Sociology > Archaeology / History
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-02-28

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