In the last two years, the government has blocked 50 OTT platforms that were displaying obscene content, preventing users from accessing them. These platforms were alleged to be violating the Information Technology (IT) Act and other laws of the country. The government is taking strict steps to ensure online safety and protection of children.
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwani Baishnab said that the government’s policy is to provide an open, safe, trusted and responsible internet for all users, including children. The ministry noted that under the new IT Rules (2021), if any court or government directs the removal of illegal content, social media and other platforms will have to remove such content within three hours.
Under which law was the platform blocked:
MeitY said that in the last two years, the government has blocked 50 OTT platforms for violating sections 67 and 67(a) of the IT Act, Section 294 of the BNS and other applicable legal provisions related to obscene content.
Steps needed to address digital addiction:
Emphasis was also placed on the ‘Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023’, which makes parental consent mandatory for processing of children’s personal data and prohibits activities like tracking children, monitoring their behavior and targeting them with advertisements. The government said that the law to regulate and promote online gaming is another important step to address the problem of digital addiction and financial loss among the youth.
It is worth mentioning that in the recent days, many complaints were made regarding the fact that many OTT platforms were broadcasting obscene content. Based on these complaints, the government also took a strict approach on such content and issued a ban on many OTT platforms. In some cases, this led to serious problems such as the youth getting disturbed and falling victim to online fraud through OTT subscriptions. Therefore, the government has taken a strict approach in this direction by taking action on 50 OTT platforms and blocking them.
