3-tier grievance redressal mechanism to address obscene content on OTT: L Murugan

Obscene content on OTT platforms has been an area of deep concern among viewers as well as policymakers. In reply to a question in Lok Sabha as to whether the Government has taken any punitive action against those found guilty of spreading obscene, pornographic and vulgar content on OTT platforms, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr L Murugan said that the Government has notified Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) on 25th February, 2021 under Information Technology Act, 2000 to address this.

Murugan added, “Part-III of these Rules, administered by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, provides for a Code of Ethics for publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and a three tier grievance redressal mechanism for addressing grievances relating to violation of the Code.”

The Code, inter alia, requires the OTT platforms not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law for the time being in force and to undertake age based self-classification of content into 5 categories, based on general guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules.

Complaints relating to content on OTT platforms are dealt under IT Rules, 2021 through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism with Level-I of the grievance redressal through the publisher itself, for taking appropriate action.

He informed the house that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory dated 19.02.2025 to OTT platforms and Self-regulatory Bodies of OTT platforms for ensuring adherence to Indian laws and the Code of Ethics laid down under the IT Rules, 2021 while hosting of content on their platforms.