Government Prods OTT Platforms To Act Against IT Law Violations Amid 'India's Got Latent' Row
YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia's comments during the India's Got Latent show sparked an uproar and invited a flurry of complaints.
Amid the row over YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia's comments at 'India's Got Latent' show, the government has issued an advisory to over-the-top platforms to follow legal norms and take appropriate action against violation of regulations.
Complaints have been received from members of Parliament, statutory organisations and the public regarding alleged spread of obscene, pornographic and vulgar content published by certain publishers of online curated content and social media, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting said in an advisory dated Feb. 19.
"In view of the above, it is advised that the OTT platforms adhere to the various provisions of applicable laws, and the Code of Ethics prescribed under IT Rules, 2021 while publishing content on their platforms, including stricter adherence of the age based classification of content prescribed under the Code of Ethics. Further, self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms are requested to take appropriate proactive action for violation of Code of Ethics by the platforms," it said.
The advisory highlighted part three of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, that lays out a 'Code of Ethics' for OTT platforms, and a three level institutional mechanism for redressal of grievances relating to violations.
The norms require 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 rules, implementation of access control mechanism for ‘A’ rated content to restrict access to such content by a minor, and also exercise due caution and discretion.
Further, the IT rules provide that the self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms should oversee and ensure the alignment and adherence to these norms.
The publication of obscene or pornographic content is also punishable offence as per various laws.
The advisory comes after Ranveer Allahbadia's comments during comedian Samay Rana's India's Got Latent row sparked an uproar. Multiple police complaints were filed against Allahbadia for the comments, which compelled him to approach the Supreme Court for interim relief.
