Ministry of I&B blocks 18 OTT platforms and associated social media accounts for publishing vulgar content

Posted 15 Mar 2024

Updated 27 Mar 2024

2 min read

Decision was taken as content of OTT platforms was in prima facie in violation of:
- Information Technology Act, 2000:
  - Section 67: Punishes transmission of obscene materials in electronic form)
  - 67A: Punishment for publishing or transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts, etc. in electronic form
- Section 292 of the IPC: Prohibits the circulation, distribution of obscene materials
- Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
In a related development, concerning a new web series, the Delhi High Court (HC) also said that profanity cannot receive constitutional protection of free speech
- HC asked for stricter application of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
  - Under the rules, significant social media intermediaries are required to deploy technology-based measures on a best-effort basis to identify certain types of content.
Need for regulating content on OTT and social media platforms as highlighted by (HC):
- The sheer enormous power of electronic media and its reach to people of all ages including children of tender age.
- Vulgar content does not mirror social realities as it does not represent values of all strata of society.
- The use of profanity is also a moral issue.

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