Lok Sabha Question No. 5274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Complaints regarding Pornographic Content on OTT Platforms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Dr. K Sudhakar, Smt. Mahima Kumari Mewar, Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Janardan Mishra, Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Shri Alok Sharma, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya, Smt. Himadri Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5274

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## COMPLAINTS REGARDING PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT ON OTT PLATFORMS

## 5274. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

SMT. HIMADRI SINGH:

DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:

SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SHRI LUMBA RAM CHAUDHARY:

SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:

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

- (a)  the  number  of  complaints  related  to  broadcast  of  obscene, pornographic  and  vulgar  content  on  Over-The-Top  (OTT)  platforms received during the financial year 2024-25 till February 2025 and the number of cases resolved out of the said complaints;
- (b) whether any advisory been issued to OTT platforms in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  punitive  action  against those  found  guilty  of  spreading  obscene,  pornographic  and  vulgar content on OTT platforms and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  launch  Prasar Bharati on OTT platforms and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the telecast of private channels is likely to be restricted on Prasar Bharati OTT and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR  INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L MURUGAN): (a)  to  (c):  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) and a three tier grievance redressal mechanism for addressing grievances relating to violation of the Code. The Code, inter alia,  requires  the  OTT  platforms  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, based on general guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules. Complaints relating to content on OTT platforms are  dealt under IT Rules,  2021  through  a  3-tier  grievance  redressal  mechanism  with Level-I  of  the  grievance  redressal  through  the  publisher  itself,  for taking appropriate action. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting  has issued an advisory dated 19.02.2025  to OTT  platforms  and  Self-regulatory Bodies  of  OTT platforms  for  ensuring  adherence  to  Indian  laws  and  the  Code  of Ethics laid down under the IT Rules, 2021 while hosting of content on their platforms. 'WAVES' in November, 2024 to complement its

(d)  and  (e):  Prasar  Bharati  has  launched  its  streaming  platform traditional broadcasting  to showcase a wider range of content beyond what is feasible  on  linear  broadcast  channels.  Permitted  private  satellite  TV channels are allowed  on the WAVES platform.

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