The central government has taken a tough stand on the arbitrariness of OTT platforms. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a new guideline to Over-the-Top i.e. OTT platforms, in which all OTT platforms have been directed to strictly follow the IT Act 2021.
The central government has taken a tough stand on the arbitrariness of OTT platforms. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a new guideline to Over-the-Top i.e. OTT platforms, in which all OTT platforms have been instructed to strictly follow the IT Act 2021. This is the second guideline issued by the government in a month. In fact, the government has become strict after the controversy in Ranbir Allahbadia’s India’s Got Talent show.
Government’s instructions to ban pornographic content
In such a situation, the government has advised age-based content classification and curbing pornographic content. The government believes that OTT apps should do content classification. Meaning, access to pornographic content can be stopped for underage people. The government said that all OTT platforms should form their own regulatory body. Also, that body should follow the code of ethics.
Parliamentary committee raised objections on the content of OTT platform
This advisory has been seen after the controversy related to content creator Ranveer Allahbadia. The ministry says that according to the people of the parliamentary committee, there is such content on OTT platforms that spreads obscenity. Online influencer Ranveer Allahbadia made ‘obscene’ comments on the popular comedy show ‘India’s Got Latent’, which was hosted by Samay Raina. An FIR has been registered against Allahbadia in this case. Also, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court strongly criticized
The Supreme Court has given him interim relief from arrest, but has strongly criticized his statement. The court said that “in the name of freedom of speech, no one has a license to say anything against the rules of society. Under Section 67 of the IT Act, there is a provision of punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene content in electronic form.
Note – There is talk of regulation of OTT apps in the country. Earlier, the issue of regulating OTT apps has been raised many times. In such a situation, the controversy of Allahbadia has again given air to this issue.
