At Connect Bareilly Zone – Influencers Meetup 2026, the first event of its kind and magnitude in the world, Dr. Natasha Goyal, IPS (ASP Pilibhit) addressed a question that every Social Media Influencer (SMI) quietly carries — where exactly does the law draw the line? Her session on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act gave Bareilly Zone’s 100+ creators not just answers, but confidence.
A 2023-batch IPS officer from Ludhiana, Punjab, Dr. Natasha Goyal holds B.A., M.A., and M.Phil/PhD qualifications in Law and Governance. Her strong academic background in legal studies made her particularly well-suited to guide the creators on the practical application of BNS and IT Act provisions.
This legal awareness session was specially requested by the Influencers Community of Bareilly Zone (ICBZ) themselves, so that social media influencers could create responsible content while staying fully informed about the law.
Speaking to over 100 influencers from nine districts, Dr. Natasha Goyal walked the creators through important provisions related to national security, women’s safety, privacy, defamation, and digital obscenity, while clearly distinguishing between protected discussion and advocacy on one hand and content that crosses legal red lines on the other.
Key Highlights from the Session:
Core BNS Provisions She explained key sections such as Sec. 299 BNS (deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings), Sec. 196 BNS (promoting enmity between groups), and Sec. 197 BNS (imputations prejudicial to national integration).
Women-Related Provisions & Digital Safety Dr. Goyal detailed Sec. 294 BNS (publishing obscene material), Sec. 67/67A IT Act (transmission of obscene and sexually explicit content), and Sec. 67B IT Act (zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material).
Privacy, Defamation & Landmark Cases She discussed important judicial principles from landmark cases such as Kedar Nath Singh (1962), Ramji Lal Modi (1957), and Shreya Singhal (2015), emphasising that Indian law protects genuine discussion and advocacy while holding incitement and harassment accountable.
Key Legal Takeaways for Creators The session gave creators greater clarity and confidence to create impactful content while remaining legally safe and responsible. Dr. Goyal also highlighted the UP Digital Media Policy 2024 as a framework every creator should familiarise themselves with, and underlined how digital forensics is increasingly being used in modern investigations — making responsible content creation not just an ethical choice but a practical necessity.
Speaking to NDD, Ujjawal Choudhary, a social media influencer from Bijnor, said, "The legal awareness session by Dr. Natasha Goyal Mam was outstanding. Everyone present, including me, learned a lot. I plan to educate my fellow SMIs as well. It was a truly valuable and insightful experience."
ADG Ramit Sharma appreciated the session and said, “Dr. Natasha Goyal has done an excellent job today in explaining the important legal provisions under BNS and IT Act. Her balanced and practical approach has empowered our influencers to create responsible content with greater confidence and clarity.”
Dr. Natasha Goyal closed with a powerful message: “Indian law protects genuine discussion and advocacy, while holding incitement and harassment accountable.” — a clear reminder that for Bareilly Zone’s 100+ creators, understanding the law is the foundation of responsible and confident content creation.
National Digital Dispatch, as the Official Media Partner of Connect Bareilly Zone 2026, will continue to bring you exclusive session highlights, live updates, and deeper insights throughout the day. Stay tuned.
