The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory for online curated content publishers (OTT platforms) and self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms.
The advisory was issued to ensure strict adherence to India’s laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed in the Information Technology Rules, 2021. This advisory came after the Ministry received references from the Members of Parliament, representations from statutory organisations, and public grievances regarding the alleged spread of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content published by certain publishers of OTT platforms and social media.
The ministry, in its advisory, emphasised the stricter adherence to the age-based classification of content prescribed under the Code of Ethics. It further requested the self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms to take appropriate proactive action for violation of the Code of Ethics by the platforms. The Ministry also sought OTT platforms attention over provisions of the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, wherein the publication of obscene or pornographic content is a punishable offence.
