The Centre has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer digital spaces for children by mandating stronger safeguards on OTT platforms to prevent exposure to age-inappropriate content. The measures were detailed in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, in response to a question from MP Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu.
The Government underlined that while freedom of speech is protected under Article 19(1) of the Constitution, the growing spread of fake, misleading and harmful content online necessitates robust regulation.
To address these challenges, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 – notified under the IT Act, 2000 – prescribe a detailed Code of Ethics for OTT platforms and digital news publishers.
Part III of the IT Rules requires OTT publishers to avoid hosting content prohibited by law and mandates age-based classification across five categories. Platforms must also implement effective parental controls and other safeguards to restrict children’s access to unsuitable content.
The Rules further require publishers of news and current affairs to follow the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, and the Press Council of India’s Norms of Journalistic Conduct, which bar inaccurate, misleading or half-truths in digital media.
To ensure compliance, the IT Rules establish a three-level grievance redressal system:
* Level I: Publisher
* Level II: Self-regulating body of publishers
* Level III: Central Government’s oversight mechanism
The Government said this framework balances accountability with the freedom of the press.
Part II of the Rules, administered by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), obligates intermediaries such as YouTube and Facebook to prevent the spread of patently false or misleading information.
The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit (FCU), operational since November 2019, verifies news related to the Central Government and publishes accurate information on its official platforms.
Additionally, under Section 69A of the IT Act, the Government can block websites, social media accounts, or posts in the interest of national security, public order, or sovereignty.
The Government also highlighted several initiatives aimed at empowering India’s digital creators: World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025; create in India Challenges (CIC), which provided industry-linked training and helped creators transform regional talent into professional content; WAVES Bazaar, a national marketplace enabling Indian creators to reach global buyers; and WAVES OTT, run by Prasar Bharati, offering a unified platform to showcase and monetise regional content.
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