18 OTT Platforms Blocked: 18 OTT platforms showing porn content, vulgar and obscene content have been blocked. The Central Government has blocked 18 OTT platforms in 2024 under the IT rules of 2021. Minister of State gave this information for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (18 December).
Responding to Anil Desai’s question, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan said that the central government has taken this step to prevent obscene or pornographic content. Murugan said that the IT rules “provide a code of conduct for publishers of news and current affairs on digital media and publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms)”. In such a situation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken strict action to prevent obscene and vulgar content. In this, 18 OTT platforms have been blocked on March 14, 2024 due to obscene and in some cases pornographic content.
Responding to another question on digital news publications, Murugan said the code of conduct for them requires them to follow the ‘Norms of Journalistic Conduct’ of the Press Council of India, the programme code under the Cable Television (Network Regulation Act, 1995), the report said.
MUST READ: Mumbai Boat Accident: PMO Announces ₹2 lakh Ex-Gratia
In another reply, he also responded to a question about publishers of news and current affairs on digital media, including YouTube news channels such as Bolta Hindustan and National Dastak. Murugan said these channels are covered under the provisions of the IT Rules, 2021, Part-III of which looks at directions for blocking content covered under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000).
He further said that the rule empowers the Central Government to issue directions to any government agency or intermediary to prevent incitement to any cognizable offence in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or in relation to such matters.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates