Govt Disables 50 OTT Platforms Over Obscene Content
Government says action taken under IT Act and other laws against platforms violating digital content norms
- Centre blocks 50 OTT platforms in the last two years.
- Action taken over obscene content and legal violations.
- Platforms found violating the IT Act, BNS and other laws.
- Complaints addressed under the IT Rules, 2021.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd July: The Centre has disabled 50 OTT platforms for public access in India over the past two years for allegedly displaying obscene content and violating provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and other applicable laws.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The government said the action was taken based on complaints received against intermediaries and OTT platforms found to be in violation of Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The Ministry noted that the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, notified on February 25, 2021, provide an institutional mechanism for regulating digital news publishers and publishers of online curated content, including OTT platforms.
Under Part III of the IT Rules, publishers are required to adhere to a prescribed Code of Ethics, while complaints against digital content are addressed through the framework established under the rules.
The government further stated that Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act empowers authorities to notify intermediaries to remove or disable access to unlawful content, and action is taken regularly against platforms found violating statutory provisions.
