Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut asked the government in Parliament on Wednesday whether effective steps have been taken to regulate OTT platforms and stop the spread of adult, violent, or culturally insensitive content.
In a written reply, Information and Broadcasting Minister said that 43 OTT platforms have been blocked so far for violating content rules.
He informed that the government had notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules in February 2020 under the IT Act, 2000.
These rules require OTT platforms to follow a Code of Ethics and ensure that no content prohibited by law is shared.
"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 not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law for the time being in force," he said.
The minister added that OTT platforms must classify their content based on age, following guidelines in the Rules. These rules cover how nudity, sex, and violence can be shown.
"The OTT platforms are also under obligation to put in place adequate safeguards for restricting age-inappropriate content for children with adequate access control measures. Besides, Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, provides for notification by appropriate governments of unlawful act or content to the intermediaries for removing/disabling access to such content," Vaishnaw said in a written reply to Ranaut.
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