The Ranveer Allahbadia controversy helped draw public attention to the filth served on the OTT Platform. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has unleashed a powerful warning to OTT platforms. The warning shows concern over the rampant spread of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content in the digital landscape.
Following a barrage of complaints from Members of Parliament, statutory organizations, and the public, the Ministry’s advisory demands immediate action to restore integrity in online media.
Why were OTT Platforms Warned?Â
The Ranveer Allahbadia controversy had Bharat fuming. However, OTT platforms often skim the line of decency in India. Ullu App, ALTBalaji+, and many others served up a horrendous bouquet of indecent content. They promoted incest, extra-marital affairs, same-sex relations, threesomes, and more. These OTT platforms also broke the line of morality by using relations like student-teacher, mother-son, father-daughter-in-law, etc. as a background to their Adult content.
While YouTubers like Allahbadia tried to turn Sanatana Dharma into a business model, these platforms served up pornographic content behind a flimsy paywall.
The mental filth and the moral decay were presented in a titillating format. And anyone, irrespective of age, could access this vulgarity by paying a small token amount. Pornographic content is illegal in India. Thus, this A-rated content skirted the borders of decency with clever cinematography. Thereby, enabling them to avoid blatant violations of the law. However, their buffet of deviant and suggestive content was slowly eroding the moral values of Bharat via the internet. It seems that money was not the bottom line of the maker; they desired a true destruction of the Indian society through their content.
Ministry’s Guidelines for OTT Platforms
Advisory to OTT platforms against nisitha, indecency and obscenity:
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued an advisory to online curated content publishers (OTT platforms) and self-regulatory Bodies of OTT platforms, to ensure strict adherence to India’s laws and the… pic.twitter.com/xMjddk9ns0— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) February 20, 2025
Thankfully, Ranveer Allahbadia’s appearance on “India’s Got Latent” highlighted how society is normalizing immoral perversion. As the public ire rose, the MPs and MLAs also woke up to their duty of protecting young minds and the morals of the society. Thus, the latest warning by the Ministry of I&B lays down the following guidelines for all OTT Platforms:Â
- Strict Age-Based Classification: OTT platforms must implement rigorous age-based content classification. This may help prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material. Thus, no more excuses – protecting children is non-negotiable henceforth!
- Prohibition of Illegal Content: Platforms are strictly prohibited from transmitting any content that violates existing laws, including obscene or pornographic material. The message is clear: Illegal content has no place in Bharat’s Digital Space.
- Access Control Mechanisms: Implement robust access control for ‘A’ rated content to restrict its availability to children. This is a critical step in ensuring responsible viewing habits among young audiences.
- Self-Regulation and Oversight: Self-regulatory bodies must actively oversee compliance with the Code of Ethics and take swift action against any violations. The time for complacency is over – active monitoring is essential to preserve the ethics and morals of Indian society!
Legal Framework Against Non-Compliance
The Ministry’s advisory underscores the serious legal implications for those who fail to comply:
- Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986: This law penalizes the publication of content that objectifies women. Moreover, it penalizess conent that is indecent in nature. Offenders will face severe legal and penal consequences.
- Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) 2023: This recent legislation addresses various offenses related to digital content, including obscenity, ensuring that violators are held accountable.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act: This act safeguards children from sexual offenses and mandates strict penalties for violations. The government is serious about protecting its youth.
- Information Technology Act, 2000: This act governs electronic communications and includes provisions against the dissemination of harmful content, reinforcing the need for responsible media practices.
A Call to Action
As digital content continues to evolve, the Indian government is taking a firm stance on regulating online media. The I&B Ministry’s advisory serves as a wake-up call for OTT platforms. It asks them to balance creative expression with responsible content management.
With increasing scrutiny from regulatory bodies and the threat of legal repercussions looming large, industry stakeholders must navigate this complex landscape carefully.
The time has come for OTT platforms to step up, comply with these guidelines, and ensure a safer digital environment for all users. The voices of the masses were heard loud and clear.
In response, the message by the government is clear: accountability is paramount, and the era of unchecked digital content is over!