In order to curb the spread of explicit, adult, violent or culturally insensitive content and ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards, the government has so far blocked 43 over-the-top (OTT) platforms, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday, July 30.
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Code of Ethics) Rules, 2021 on 25.02.2021 under the IT Act, 2000.
“Part-III of the rules provides for a Code of Ethics for digital news publishers and publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms). OTT platforms are under obligation to not transmit any content which is prohibited by law for the time being in force,” informed Union Electronics and IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the Lok Sabha.
He said in a written reply to a question that OTT platforms are bound to do age-based self-classification of content based on the general guidelines given in the Schedule to the Rules, including provisions relating to depiction of nudity, sex, and violence.
According to the minister, OTT platforms are also under an obligation to implement adequate safeguards to restrict age-inappropriate content for children, along with adequate access control measures.
Further, Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000 provides that appropriate governments may remove/disable access to such content by issuing a notification to intermediaries about unlawful acts or content.
The Government has already issued an advisory to OTT platforms and self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms to ensure compliance with the code of conduct prescribed under Indian laws and the IT Rules, 2021 while hosting content on their platforms.
“After due consultation with relevant Ministries, 43 OTT platforms have been blocked so far,” Vaishnaw added.
In a bid to crackdown on illegal and obscene content, the government last week directed internet service providers (ISPs) to disable public access to 25 OTT platforms, including big and popular names such as Ullu, ALTT and DesiFlix.
The move was aimed at preventing the dissemination of content that was deemed sexually explicit and in violation of Indian legal and cultural standards. The banned apps include Big Shots App, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix and Triflicks.
With the inputs of IANS
