Government Crackdown: 18 OTT Platforms Face Action Over ‘Obscene’ Content
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In a decisive move aimed at curbing the proliferation of objectionable content, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has undertaken coordinated action to block 18 OTT platforms accused of disseminating “obscene,” “vulgar,” and, in some cases, “pornographic content.” According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday, a total of 19 websites, 10 apps (7 on the Google Play Store and 3 on the Apple App Store), and 57 associated social media accounts have been disabled for public access in India.
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, has been vocal about the need for platforms to exercise responsibility and refrain from propagating obscenity, vulgarity, and abuse under the guise of ‘creative expression’. Notably, Thakur reiterated this stance on March 12, announcing the proactive measures taken against the 18 identified OTT platforms responsible for disseminating objectionable content, as highlighted in the ministry’s release.
The decision to block these platforms was made in accordance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, following consultations with various ministries of the Government of India, as well as domain experts specializing in media and entertainment, women’s rights, and child rights.
This concerted effort reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding public morality and protecting vulnerable sections of society from exposure to inappropriate content disseminated through digital platforms.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has taken action, in coordination with various intermediaries, to block 18 OTT platforms publishing “obscene,” “vulgar,” and, in some instances, “pornographic content”. 19 websites, 10 apps (7 on the Google Play Store and 3 on the Apple App Store), and 57 social media accounts associated with these platforms have been disabled for public access in India, an official statement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on Thursday.
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur has repeatedly emphasized the responsibility of the platforms to not propagate obscenity, vulgarity and abuse under the guise of ‘creative expression’. On March 12, Thakur announced that 18 OTT platforms publishing obscene and vulgar content had been taken down, the release said.
The statement further added that the recent decision was taken under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in consultation with other ministries of the Government of India, and domain experts specializing in media and entertainment, women’s rights, and child rights.
