Digital freedom comes with responsibility, says Smriti Irani

Smriti Irani, known for her outspoken presence in the entertainment industry, posted a heartfelt video on Instagram on September 21, emphasizing that the liberty to speak online is a valuable commodity that must be handled with care.

"The right to speak freely is priceless, and the responsibility that comes with it is equally precious," she wrote. "Disagree, debate, criticize, question – hold those in the public sphere accountable. Yet we must never forget that behind every screen lies a human being."

Irani warned that the ease of typing a comment should not be confused with the lasting effect those words can have. She called for a collective shift toward kindness, noting that a small act of empathy can prevent far‑reaching damage.

Her message was timed after a recent television segment that provoked a surge of trolling directed at Salman Khan and other stars, exposing how quickly digital dialogue can deteriorate into personal attacks.