Centre Orders OTT Platforms To Remove Pakistan-Origin Content

Amid the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) has asked OTT platforms, media streaming services, and intermediaries operating in the country to stop hosting content originating from Pakistan.

In the advisory, the ministry said that several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based state and non-state actors. It also referred to the recent gruesome terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

“In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect,” the advisory, issued under the IT Rules, 2021, said.  

Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for disseminating provocative, communally sensitive content, and false or misleading narratives targeting India, its Army, and security agencies. 

The banned channels included prominent news outlets such as Dawn News, Geo News, ARY News, Samaa TV, and individual journalists’ channels, which collectively had over 63 Mn subscribers

Notably, India has previously taken similar measures to restrict Pakistani content following major terror attacks linked to Pakistan-based actors. 

After incidents like the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack, India banned Pakistani artists, while film and TV collaborations were suspended. The government has also repeatedly blocked Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading anti-India propaganda under IT Rules, 2021.