Lok Sabha Question No. 5266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Impact of Content Broadcast on OTT Platforms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Imran Masood

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5266 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

IMPACT OF CONTENT BROADCAST ON OTT PLATFORMS

5266. SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state;

(a)  whether the Government has conducted any survey showing that the content shown on OTT platforms is adversely impacting/affecting the  mental  state  of  children  and  adolescents  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  content  shown  on  OTT  platforms  in  the  name  of entertainment is promoting violence, sensuality and crime in society;

(c) if so, whether the Government proposes to make any rules to stop or regulate the use of obscene words, abuses, sensuality and nudity in the content shown on OTT platforms in the name of entertainment;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to censor the content broadcast on OTT platforms and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR  INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L MURUGAN):

(a)  to  (e):  The  Government  has  notified  Information  Technology (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021 (IT Rules, 2021) on 25th February, 2021 under Information Technology Act, 2000.

Part-III  of  these  Rules,  administered  by  Ministry  of  Information  and Broadcasting,  provides  for  a  Code  of  Ethics  for  publishers  of  online curated content (OTT  platforms) which, inter alia, requires the publishers not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law for the time being in force and to undertake age based self-classification of  content  into  5  categories  as  under:  based  on  general  guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules

| Nature of Content (suitable for)                                                                                    | Classifi cation   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Unrestricted access, regardless of age, and is family friendly                                                      | U                 |
| For persons aged 7 years and above, and can be viewed by a person under the age of 7 years with parental guidance   | U/A 7+            |
| For persons aged 13 years and above, and can be viewed by a person under the age of 13 years with parental guidance | U/A 13+           |
| For persons aged 16 years and above, and can be viewed by a person under the age of 16 years with parental guidance | U/A 16+           |
| Restricted to adults                                                                                                | A                 |

Besides, Section  79(3)(b)  of  IT  Act,  2000  provides  for  notification  by appropriate  Governments      of    unlawful  act  or  content    to  the intermediaries for removing/disabling access to such content.

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