Amid the controversy over podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia’s remarks, the ministry of Information and broadcasting has asked the OTT platforms to comply with the regulations strictly while publishing the content.
The move comes after a controversy erupted over podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia’s vulgar remarks during ‘India Got Talent’ show where he had appeared as a guest.
Several FIRs were filed against Ranveer Allahbadia after which he approached the Supreme Court. The top court gave him interim protection while directing him to cooperate in the probe.
The ministry mentioned that it received complaints from several Members of Parliament, representations from statutory organizations and the public regarding the spread of obscene, pornographic and vulgar content published by certain publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and social media.
Publication of obscene or pornographic content is a punishable offence.
The ministry advised that the OTT platforms adhere to the various provisions of applicable laws, and the Code of Ethics prescribed under Advisory on adherence of Indian Laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 – reg. Part-IIl of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, interalia, provide for a Code of Ethics for OTT platforms, and a three level institutional mechanism for redressal of grievances relating to violation of the Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics, inter-alia, requires OTT platforms not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law, undertake age-based classification of content, based on general guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules, implementation of access control mechanism for ‘A’ rated content to restrict access to such content by a child, and also exercise due caution and discretion.
Further, the Rules provide that the Self-regulatory Bodies of OTT platforms shall oversee and ensure the alignment and adherence by the OTT platforms to the Code of Ethics.
Attention is also invited to the provisions of Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSQ) Act, and Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
