Govt To Take Tough Action To Stop Vulgarity On OTTs In The Name Of Creativity: Anurag Thakur

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday warned over-the-top (OTT) platforms that vulgarity and abusive language was not acceptable in the name of creativity.

The minister said that the government will not hesitate to take tough action to stop this trend of vulgarity and abusive language in content on OTT platforms following complaints on this issue.

“These platforms were given freedom for creativity and not for obscenity and when one crosses the limit, then hurling abuses in the name of creativity cannot be accepted at all,” Thakur said.

He also added that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will not hesitate if there is a need to change the rules.

The minister also noted that there was a three-stage mechanism to deal with OTT platforms’ content.

The first level of the mechanism demands producers to address content related complaints. Then at the second level, the complaints go to their associations.Finally, the ministry takes strict action following the rules when a complaint reaches the government.

The three-tier grievance redressal mechanism is as follows: Level I: A self-regulation by broadcasters; Level II: Self-regulation by the broadcasters’ self-regulating bodies; and Level III: Oversight mechanism by the central government.

This statement comes a few days after the Delhi High Court reportedly said that there is a need to regulate content with vulgar language on OTT platforms.

While hearing a case filed with regards to the webseries ‘College Romance’, being streamed on SonyLiv, YouTube and TVFPlay, the HC said that the language used in the show is ‘obscene and vulgar’.

The court directed the Ministry of Information and Technology (MIB) to take steps to enforce stricter implementation of the IT Rules and also undertake steps to make necessary laws to deal with such issues.

Earlier in February, Thakur informed the Rajya Sabha that the MIB has redressed 265 grievances against over-the-top (OTT) content under the IT rules, 2021.

“Since the notification of the Rules, the ministry has received 265 grievances, which have been addressed in accordance with the laid down procedure,” the minister said.

Under the rules, OTT platforms have to self-classify the content into five age-based categories – U (Universal), U/A 7+ (years), U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A (Adult).

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, provides for a Code of Ethics to be followed by the publishers of online curated content.

There are international players such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar in the OTT market, as well as domestic players such as Zee5, MX Player, Voot, among others.

According to a report by RBSA Advisors, India’s video OTT market is expected to reach a size of $12.5 Bn by 2030 from about $1.5 Bn in 2021 on the back of access to better networks, digital connectivity and smartphones.

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