New Delhi:The Centre warned the OTT platforms against transmitting content that is prohibited by the law amid a row over vulgar jokes and content on social media. In an advisory issued on Wednesday to over-the-top (OTT) platforms and self-regulatory bodies, the Union ministry of information and broadcasting asked them to strictly adhere to the ‘Code of Ethics’ prescribed under the IT Rules-2021 while publishing content, including stricter adherence to the age-based classification of content. It also asked self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms to take appropriate proactive action for violation of the Code of Ethics by the platforms.
The advisory comes in the wake of the Supreme Court suggesting regulation on content on social media platforms. The apex court had flagged the ‘vacuum’ in law when it comes to sharing content on platforms such as YouTube and said that all kinds of things were going on.
The ministry also said that it has received complaints from Members of Parliament, statutory organisations and public grievances regarding the alleged spread of obscene, pornographic and vulgar content published by certain publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and social media.
The advisory said that the ‘Code of Ethics’, inter-alia, require OTT platforms not to transmit any content that is prohibited by law, undertake age-based classification of content, based on general guidelines provided in the ‘Schedule to the Rules’, implement access control mechanism for ‘A’ rated content to restrict access to such content by a child, and also exercise due caution and discretion.
