Should Regulations Be Imposed on Influencers? Snehil Mehra Weighs in on YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's Spying Case

Synopsis
Snehil Mehra has voiced her opinion on the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber accused of espionage. She underscores the need for regulations in the influencer space and calls for severe punishment if found guilty. This case raises important questions regarding accountability and freedom in the digital age.
Key Takeaways
- Snehil Mehra calls for strict penalties for espionage.
- The case of Jyoti Malhotra raises questions about influencer accountability.
- Regulations for influencers are deemed necessary by industry experts.
- The implications of social media freedom are under scrutiny.
- National security must be prioritized in the digital age.
Mumbai, May 20 (NationPress) Actress and content creator Snehil Mehra expressed her thoughts regarding the arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is facing allegations of espionage.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Snehil emphasized that if Jyoti is found guilty, she deserves a severe penalty for betraying her nation.
She remarked, "Upon hearing this news, I was genuinely shocked—it felt like something out of a Bollywood film. Yet, if the Indian Army has leveled such serious charges, there must be some basis for it. Should these allegations be confirmed post-investigation, it would be truly disgraceful; betraying the very country that has contributed to your fame amounts to treason. I firmly believe that a stringent punishment is warranted if guilt is established."
When asked about the freedom enjoyed by social media influencers, she replied, "As someone from the film industry, my experience indicates that we cannot film just anywhere. For example, if you want to shoot at a sacred site like the Maha Kumbh or near a military facility, one must secure appropriate permissions. In the same vein, I feel that influencers should also be subjected to certain regulations, as the prevalence of smartphones has transformed everyone into potential influencers."
"Imposing a layer of permissions on these influencers could prevent such occurrences. Just like we have censorship in films, there should be established rules in the realm of social media."
She further advocated for accountability regarding such incidents.
Recently, Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was taken into custody on accusations of spying for Pakistan.
Jyoti, who runs the YouTube channel "Travel with JO", was arrested on May 16.
She is set to be interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and military intelligence personnel.