New Delhi, February 20 (HS): Amid controversial comments on podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia's stand-up show India's Got Latent, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to OTT platforms on pornographic content. The government has directed all OTT and social media channels to do age-based classification and strictly implement self-regulation.

According to the advisory issued on February 19, OTT platforms will have to follow the various provisions of the laws and the code of conduct prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021.

The advisory states that an advisory has been issued to the publishers of online curated content (OTT) and social media regarding the alleged dissemination of pornographic content following representations from Members of Parliament, statutory organizations and complaints received from the people.

The advisory cites the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Code of Conduct) Rules, 2021, which provides a code of conduct for OTT platforms and a three-tier institutional mechanism for redressal of complaints related to its violation. The code of conduct, among other things, emphasizes on OTT platforms not to broadcast any content that is prohibited by law. Along with this, A' rated content has been directed to be prohibited for children so that children can be protected from inappropriate content.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar