{"id":49353,"date":"2025-07-26T21:31:59","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T16:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=49353"},"modified":"2025-07-26T21:32:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T16:02:17","slug":"centre-blocks-25-ott-platforms-obscene-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-07-2025\/centre-blocks-25-ott-platforms-obscene-content","title":{"rendered":"Centre Blocks 25 OTT Platforms over Obscene Content"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the blocking of websites and apps of at least 25 OTT platforms for allegedly providing obscene and vulgar content.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Factors causing rise in Obscenity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rapid Growth of Digital Platforms:<\/strong> The proliferation of OTTs, social media, and video-sharing sites has enabled easy access and dissemination of objectionable content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Pre-Screening on OTT Platforms:<\/strong> Unlike films, OTT content is not subject to prior certification, allowing creators to bypass traditional censorship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inadequate Content Regulation Mechanisms: <\/strong>Weak enforcement in self-regulatory frameworks result in unchecked publication of obscene material.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anonymity and Encryption:<\/strong> Users often exploit encrypted apps and anonymous browsing tools to share and consume explicit content, escaping legal scrutiny.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legal Framework Governing Obscenity in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Section 67: <\/strong>Punishes publishing\/transmitting obscene material electronically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section 67A: <\/strong>Specifically penalizes sexually explicit content.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: <\/strong>Section 294 (previously Section 292 of IPC, 1860) prohibits sale or distribution of obscene materials including digital content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986:<\/strong> Section 4 bans advertisements or publications that depict women indecently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IT Rules, 2021:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mandates OTT platforms to adhere to a <strong>Code of Ethics.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provides a <strong>three-tier grievance redressal mechanism<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes oversight by the <strong>Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC)<\/strong>, a self-regulatory body led by a former SC judge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Important Judgments and Committees<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Justice for Rights Foundation v. Union of India, 2018:<\/strong> The Supreme Court transferred a plea seeking stricter regulation of OTT content to the Ministry of I&amp;B, which later led to the formulation of self-regulation mechanisms under the <strong>IT Rules, 2021.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shyam Divan Committee: <\/strong>It was established in <strong>2021 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting<\/strong> to draft a code of ethics and examine the need for regulation of content on digital media platforms, especially OTTs.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It called for self-regulation with government oversight, and accountability mechanisms for digital publishers and OTT platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications of Rising Obscenity in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Impact on Social Morality: <\/strong>The growing presence of obscene content in digital media influences public morality, especially among impressionable audiences such as children and young adults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cybercrime and Exploitation:<\/strong> Increased obscenity online fuel exploitation, including cyberbullying, harassment, and trafficking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Challenge to Regulatory Mechanisms:<\/strong> Despite the IT Rules, enforcement remains a challenge due to technological evasions (VPNs, mirror sites).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Balancing freedom of expression with public decency continues to be contentious.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthening Implementation: <\/strong>Regular monitoring and swift enforcement of IT Rules are essential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promoting Digital Literacy:<\/strong> Empower users, especially youth, to responsibly engage with digital content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Platform Accountability:<\/strong> OTTs must adopt content rating systems, age-gating, and pre-screening mechanisms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Judicial Oversight:<\/strong> Ensure legal actions align with constitutional rights and due process to prevent misuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/altt-ullu-among-over-20-ott-apps-banned-for-indecent-representation-of-women\/article69854104.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the blocking of websites and apps of at least 25 OTT platforms for allegedly providing obscene and vulgar content.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Factors causing rise in Obscenity<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Rapid Growth of Digital Platforms: The proliferation of OTTs, social media, and video-sharing sites has enabled easy access and dissemination of objectionable content.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Lack of Pre-Screening on OTT Platforms: Unlike films, OTT content is not subject to prior certification, allowing creators to bypass traditional censorship.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Inadequate Content Regulation Mechanisms: Weak enforcement in self-regulatory frameworks result in unchecked publication of obscene material.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Anonymity and Encryption: Users often exploit encrypted apps and anonymous browsing tools to share and consume explicit content, escaping legal scrutiny.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-07-2025\/centre-blocks-25-ott-platforms-obscene-content\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49353"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49374,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49353\/revisions\/49374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}