Ministry of Information and Broadcasting became strict on obscene content, sent order to three OTT platforms to remove content… – Bollywood Keeda

New Delhi. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has started showing strictness on OTT platforms presenting obscene content. The ministry has ordered three platforms – Hunters, Besharam and Prime Play – to remove such content or face action.

According to sources, this is the first time that laws related to obscenity have been implemented against OTT platforms. Sources said various web-series on these platforms were examined and the content was prima facie found to be obscene and borderline obscene.

As a result, notices were issued in the last week of October regarding violations of the IT Rules, 2021 and other laws related to obscenity and obscenity, including sections 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material) and 67A (publishing or transmitting sexual material) Do) are included. The platforms were given five days to ensure compliance with the IT Act, 2000.

According to sources, the I&B Ministry is dealing with the increasing complaints regarding obscenity on OTT platforms. While there are currently 57 registered OTT platforms, most of these complaints relate to unregistered platforms, which have grown rapidly in recent times. The three platforms that were ordered to remove content were unregistered.

Sources said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may in future implement the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, which can carry a prison sentence.

Over the past few months, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur has often talked about the rise in obscene and abusive content on OTT platforms. He had earlier said that the government is serious about the complaints of increasing abusive and obscene content on OTT platforms. If there is a need to make any changes in the rules on this, the ministry will consider it…the government will not shy away from taking necessary action.

In a meeting with representatives of OTT players in July, Thakur had underlined their responsibility to ensure that their platforms do not promote obscenity and abuse.