Indore, September 24 (SDNA):
The rapid expansion of OTT platforms in India has transformed the way audiences consume entertainment, but it has also brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding obscene, sexually explicit and age-inappropriate digital content.
Against this backdrop, Nivrah Foundation has approached the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeking stronger monitoring of OTT platforms and effective implementation of the Digital Media Ethics Code applicable to digital content publishers.
According to information shared by the foundation, its founder Dr. Vinayak Ashok Luniya has communicated with officials of the Ministry’s Digital Media Division through email, highlighting concerns related to content available on OTT services and the need for appropriate action wherever applicable under existing laws and regulations.
Regulatory Framework Already in Place
India already has a regulatory framework governing OTT platforms under Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The framework provides for a Code of Ethics for publishers of online curated content along with a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism. OTT content is required to be classified according to age suitability, with appropriate content descriptors to help viewers understand the nature of the material.
The rules also provide for appropriate access-control mechanisms for content falling under higher age classifications, particularly with the objective of restricting access by children.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Digital Media Division administers the provisions relating to publishers of online curated content and digital news publishers.
Focus Shifts From Rules to Their Implementation
The foundation has emphasized that the central issue is not merely the existence of regulations, but whether the prescribed safeguards and grievance mechanisms are being implemented effectively.
Nivrah Foundation has urged the authorities to ensure that OTT services comply with applicable Indian laws and the prescribed Code of Ethics, while also ensuring that complaints concerning potentially objectionable or unlawful content are dealt with through the established mechanism.
The Ministry had also reiterated the importance of compliance with