New Delhi, July 22: The central government has blocked public access to 50 OTT platforms in India over allegations of broadcasting obscene content and violating various legal provisions, including the Information Technology Act.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, provided this information in a written response in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
He stated that the action was taken against intermediaries and OTT platforms found in violation of Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Vaishnaw emphasized that the government has restricted access to these 50 OTT platforms over the past two years due to the dissemination of obscene content and related legal violations.
He noted that the government acts on received complaints and utilizes the powers granted under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act to instruct intermediaries to remove illegal content or restrict access to it.
The minister highlighted that the government’s digital policy aims to ensure a safe, reliable, and accountable internet environment for all users, including children. He mentioned that the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, provide a legal framework to promote digital innovation, user safety, and responsible online participation.
He added that under IT regulations, intermediaries are required to exercise due diligence and clearly inform their users not to host, upload, publish, transmit, or share any content that may be harmful to children or violate any applicable laws.
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