Government planning rules to regulate OTT content before release: Sources

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is formulating new regulations to regulate content before it is released on OTT platforms, government sources told India Today TV. So far, changes have only been made to OTT content after it has been released, or when complaints were filed.
This shift is expected to streamline the process and reduce legal challenges that arise when changes are requested after content is released on OTT platforms.
The proposed rules will place the responsibility on platforms and content creators to ensure their material aligns with government guidelines.
Consultations with stakeholders, including major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Jio, have already begun, sources said. The government is gathering input on how content is researched and developed, especially when it pertains to Indian history.
The development comes amid concerns raised over the alleged glorification of anti-India elements and inaccuracies in recent content on streaming platforms. The latest example of this was the controversy surrounding the Netflix series IC 814, based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight.
After a meeting with Netflix officials, the ministry instructed the platform to make specific cuts and add disclaimers where needed.
According to sources, the government is now exploring ways to ensure content is filtered before release, rather than making changes post-launch.
Activist Uday Mahurkar, speaking with India Today, stressed the urgent need to curb pornographic content on OTT platforms, citing its harmful impact on society.
He shared data with the government, pointing to rising crime rates and instances of sexual violence linked to the easy availability of explicit material online.
“If we don’t act now, the situation will worsen,” Mahurkar warned, highlighting cases of minors being involved in sexual crimes after exposure to such content.