India Supreme Court Bans Unauthorized Social Media Court Clips

The Supreme Court of India issued an interim order on July 24, 2026, prohibiting the unauthorized extraction, modification, dissemination, and monetization of audio-video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media and digital platforms. The order requires prior permission from the Supreme Court secretary general or the registrar general of the jurisdictional high courts for such uploads, though it explicitly exempts standard news reporting.

Presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, the bench acted on a petition filed by journalist Harshita Grover. The court expressed concern that edited clips and AI-driven manipulations were distorting judicial proceedings to create motivated narratives. Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that the judiciary must not become a "24x7 entertainment channel," as such trends belittle the justice system. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta supported the measure, warning that AI tools could be used to alter the spoken words of judges and lawyers.

In addition to the interim ban, the court sought responses from the Central government, the Bar Council of India, and major social media platforms, including YouTube, X, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. The court also requested reports from High Courts on their live-streaming rules. The bench suggested that if regulation fails, it may consider restricting live-streaming entirely to protect the sanctity of the institution.