New Delhi: Amid the controversy surrounding 'India’s Got Latent' and Ranveer Allahbadia, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has urged OTT platforms to strictly adhere to age-based content classification norms prescribed under the Code of Ethics.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, Deputy Secretary Amarendra Singh directed OTT platforms and their self-regulatory bodies to comply with the provisions of applicable laws and the Code of Ethics outlined in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The advisory also instructed self-regulatory bodies to take proactive measures against platforms violating these norms.
The move comes shortly after the Supreme Court criticized Allahbadia for allegedly promoting "perversion" and emphasized the need for regulation to uphold decency in online content across social media and streaming platforms.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh also sought a response from the Union government regarding the lack of stringent regulations for digital content. “We would like to do something. If the government willingly takes action, we will be very happy,” the court remarked on Tuesday.
Allahbadia sparked nationwide outrage with controversial comments on parenting and sex during a live-streamed episode of 'India’s Got Latent' on YouTube.
Earlier, the I&B Ministry had received complaints from Members of Parliament, statutory organizations, and the public regarding the alleged dissemination of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content by certain OTT platforms and social media channels.
Citing Part III of the IT Rules, 2021, the ministry emphasized that OTT platforms must adhere to a three-tier institutional grievance redressal mechanism and a Code of Ethics that prohibits transmitting content banned by law. Additionally, platforms are required to implement age-based classification, access controls for ‘A’ rated content to prevent children from viewing inappropriate material, and exercise due caution and discretion.
The ministry further reminded OTT platforms and social media companies of relevant laws, including the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, under which publishing obscene or pornographic content is a punishable offense.
With IANS inputs