AMID a row over vulgarjokes on social media, the Centre has cracked the whip and warned OTT platforms against transmitting content that is prohibited by the law. In an advisory to over-the-top (OTT) platforms and self-regulatory bodies, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting alsoaskedthemtostrictlyadhere to the Code of Ethics prescribed under the IT Rules-2021 while publishing content, including stricter adherence to the agebased classification of content. It also asked self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms to take appropriateproactive actionfor violation of the Code of Ethics by the platforms.

 

The ministry said it has received complaints from Members of Parliament, statutory organisations and public grievances regardingthealleged spreadofobscene, pornographic and vulgar content published by certain publishers of online curatedcontent(OTTplatforms) and social media. “In view of the above it is advised that the OTT platforms adhere to the various provisions of applicable laws, andtheCode of Ethics prescribed under IT Rules,2021whilepublishingcontent on their platforms, includingstricteradherencetotheagebased classification of content prescribed under the Code of Ethics,” the advisory said.

 

ItsaidtheCodeofEthics,interalia, 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, implementaccesscontrolmechanism for ‘A’ rated content to restrict access tosuchcontentbyachild, and also exercise due caution and discretion. Theadvisoryalsocomesinthe wake of the Supreme Court suggestingregulationoncontenton social media platforms. Theapexcourthadflaggedthe “vacuum” in law when it comes to sharing content on platforms such as YouTube and said “all kinds of things were going on”.