Centre Warns OTT Platforms Amid Vulgar Joke Row

The Centre has asked Social media channels and OTT platforms to follow the Code of Ethics prescribed in the Information Technology Rules, 2021, and ensure critical self-regulation. The government has also asked the platforms to implement “access control for ‘A’ rated content" to avoid children consuming inappropriate content amid the row over podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia’s “watch parents have sex" comment at comedian Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issued an advisory to online curated content publishers and self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms, to ensure strict adherence to India’s laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, Senior I&B Ministry Advisor, Kanchan Gupta posted on X.

The government also highlighted the importance of Self-Regulatory Bodies in ensuring compliance, noting that these bodies are responsible for overseeing OTT platforms and ensuring their adherence to the Code of Ethics.

The advisory further emphasized legal provisions that prohibit the publication of obscene or pornographic content, citing laws such as the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. Platforms were warned of potential legal consequences for violating these laws.

The Ministry urged OTT platforms to strictly follow all applicable laws and the Code of Ethics set forth under the IT Rules, 2021, particularly with regard to age-based content classification.

The Centre's move came after the top court on Tuesday stressed that "there was a need to do something", and that YouTubers were misusing the lack of regulation on online platforms. The Supreme Court made the observation as it heard YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia's plea seeking the clubbing of FIRs filed against him over a crass joke.