Parliamentary panel meets OTT stakeholders as content regulation debate heats up

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology recently convened a meeting with executives from OTT platforms to address concerns over allegedly vulgarity in content. According to industry sources, representatives from JioStar, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix took part in the meeting.

Chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who led the parliamentary panel, the meeting took place in Bengaluru and also covered topics such as the use of artificial intelligence and other challenges faced by OTT platforms. Officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were also in attendance.

In December last year, industry bodies met with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology to discuss the growth of OTT platforms and concerns over obscenity in content.

While the government is considering stricter regulations, industry bodies are advocating for self-regulation under the Information Technology Act. 

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had emphasised the need to strengthen laws governing social media and OTT platforms.

He highlighted that while social media enables freedom of expression, the lack of editorial oversight has also led to unchecked content, including vulgarity, making regulatory intervention necessary.

In March last year, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in coordination with various intermediaries, took action against 18 OTT platforms for publishing obscene, vulgar, and, in some cases, pornographic content. 

As a result, 19 websites, 10 apps (7 on Google Play Store and 3 on Apple App Store), and 57 associated social media accounts were blocked in India.

The then I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur had consistently stressed the responsibility of OTT platforms to prevent obscenity, vulgarity, and abuse under the pretext of ‘creative expression.’ 

On March 12, 2024, he confirmed the takedown of these 18 platforms.

The blocked OTT platforms include Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, Tri Flicks, X Prime, Neon X VIP, Besharams, Hunters, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, MoodX, Mojflix, Hot Shots VIP, Fugi, Chikooflix and Prime Play.

About 12 accounts were blocked on Facebook, 17 on Instagram, 16 on X(Formerly Twitter, and 12 on YouTube.