The Indian government has issued a strong directive to all OTT platforms, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with the Code of Ethics under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. This move comes in response to growing concerns over explicit and objectionable content on digital platforms, particularly after the Supreme Court recently called for the regulation of obscene content on YouTube. The controversy surrounding the now-defunct India's Got Latent show, which featured an inappropriate joke that sparked widespread public outrage, has further intensified the debate over digital content regulation.
Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Kanchan Gupta, shared the advisory on X, outlining the ministry’s concerns and emphasizing the urgent need for platforms to ensure that their content adheres to Indian laws. The notice stated that the ministry had received multiple complaints from Members of Parliament, statutory bodies, and members of the general public, who raised alarms over the increasing dissemination of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content by certain OTT platforms and social media channels. The advisory made it clear that the Code of Ethics mandates all online content providers to ensure that their programming does not contain material prohibited by law, reinforcing the government’s commitment to upholding digital content standards.
This directive from the government follows recent observations made by the Supreme Court, where the bench highlighted the dangers of unregulated digital spaces and stressed the urgent need for intervention. The top court's comments were made while hearing a plea from popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, who sought the clubbing of multiple FIRs filed against him over a controversial joke he made on comedian Samay Raina’s India's Got Latent show. The joke, which was streamed online, received significant backlash from various sections of society, ultimately leading to the show’s shutdown.
With digital entertainment becoming increasingly influential, the issue of content regulation has become a major point of discussion. While many argue that creative freedom should be upheld, others insist that stricter rules are necessary to prevent the spread of offensive material that could harm societal values. The government’s latest directive signals a tougher stance on regulating OTT platforms, raising questions about how streaming services will adapt to the heightened scrutiny and whether further policy changes will be introduced to monitor online content more closely.
The move has sparked a larger debate in the entertainment industry, with some filmmakers and content creators expressing concerns over potential censorship, while others welcome the guidelines as necessary to maintain decency in digital entertainment. As streaming platforms continue to shape the future of entertainment in India, the balance between creative freedom and responsible content regulation remains a crucial issue. It remains to be seen how OTT platforms will respond to these heightened regulations and whether additional measures will be implemented to ensure compliance.
