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50 OTT Platforms Blocked as Government Tightens Digital Content Rules
New Delhi: The Central Government has blocked 50 OTT platforms over the past two years for allegedly hosting and distributing obscene content in violation of the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the action was taken under Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 294 of the BNS, and other applicable legal provisions. The government said the move is aimed at creating a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem, particularly for children and young users.
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, said the government’s focus is on ensuring an open, secure, trusted, and accountable internet for all. He also highlighted the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which requires parental consent for processing children’s personal data and prohibits tracking, behavioural monitoring, and targeted advertising directed at minors.
The ministry further stated that under the IT Rules, 2021, social media platforms and online intermediaries must remove illegal or objectionable content within three hours of receiving directions from a court or the government.
The crackdown also forms part of broader efforts to curb digital addiction, online fraud, and harmful online content, following multiple complaints that some OTT platforms were promoting explicit material and exposing users, especially young audiences, to inappropriate content and financial scams through subscriptions.
