NEW DELHI/SHIMLA: In an age where anything can be turned into content, even death is no longer being spared.
The growing trend of obscene, insensitive and AI-generated digital content or reels or so Iinvolving human cadavers and deceased persons has sparked concern among doctors, ethicists and civil society groups, prompting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene.
Acting on a complaint filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF), the NHRC has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting within four weeks.
The doctors' body welcomed the move, describing dignity after death as a fundamental human rights issue. It expressed concern over the increasing circulation of content that trivializes human remains and reduces death to a tool for online engagement.
The issue has also drawn sharp reactions from members of civil society, who argue that social media platforms have failed to enforce basic standards of decency. They contend that platforms such as Facebook, X and Google-owned services should not only remove such content but also take stronger action against repeat offenders who repeatedly post material that demeans the dead for views and monetization.
According to social commentators and digital rights observers, many of these so-called content creators rely heavily on artificial intelligence and image manipulation tools to manufacture shocking visuals designed to go viral. Such content, they argue, often blurs the line between reality and fabrication while eroding public sensitivity towards death and human suffering.
Several civil society voices have called for authorities to examine whether existing provisions under the Information Technology Act and other laws are adequate to deal with such conduct. If legal loopholes exist, they say, Parliament should consider introducing amendments to specifically address the creation and dissemination of digital content that humiliates, exploits or commercializes human remains and deceased persons.
They further argue that repeat offenders should face penalties ranging from account suspensions and platform blacklisting to public disclosure of violations. "Freedom of expression cannot become a licence to degrade humanity," said one social activist, adding that civilized behaviour is the minimum expected in the digital public sphere.
Experts warn that if left unchecked, the trend risks normalizing disrespect towards the dead and turning human tragedy into a form of entertainment. They maintain that every such case should be treated with the same seriousness irrespective of the popularity of the creator or the platform involved.
The NHRC's intervention is being viewed as a timely reminder that technological advances and artificial intelligence cannot be allowed to override fundamental values of dignity, ethics and human respect. Observers hope the Commission's action will lead to stronger safeguards and greater accountability from both governments and social media companies.
As one civil society observer remarked, "A society is judged not only by how it treats the living, but also by how it honours its dead."
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