Today, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) took action against 18 OTT platforms for distributing inappropriate content. The decision comes as a response to the platforms sharing obscene, vulgar, and sometimes pornographic material.
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, emphasized the platforms’ duty to avoid disseminating obscenity in the guise of “creative expression.”
The decision, made under the Information Technology Act, 2000, followed consultations with multiple government ministries and domain experts, the release stated.
In total, 19 websites, along with 10 apps (7 on Google Play Store and 3 on Apple App Store), and 57 associated social media accounts have been blocked from public access in India.
Content Violations and Engagement
The release highlighted that the content on the banned platforms was deemed obscene, vulgar, and often depicted women derogatorily, featuring nudity, sexual acts, and inappropriate relationships.
Such content violated several legal statutes, including the Information Technology Act of 2000, the Indian Penal Code, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act of 1986.
Additionally, these banned platforms had amassed significant viewership, with one app garnering over 1 crore downloads and two others surpassing 50 lakh downloads on the Google Play Store alone.
They also extensively utilized social media, accumulating a combined followership of over 32 lakh users across various platforms.
Government’s Engagement and Industry Development
The release highlights the Ministry of I&B’s active engagement with OTT platforms and their self-regulatory bodies to promote responsible content creation. Sensitization efforts through meetings, webinars, and workshops aim to foster a culture of self-regulation within the industry.
Despite the ban, the Government of India remains committed to supporting the growth of the OTT industry. Various initiatives, such as the introduction of the Inaugural OTT Award for Web Series at the 54th International Film Festival of India and collaboration with OTT platforms in the media and entertainment sector, demonstrate this commitment.
Additionally, a light-touch regulatory framework emphasizing self-regulation has been established under the IT Rules, 2021.