Question : Regulations on Web Series

(a) whether the Government has taken note of web series/films released on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms constantly hurting the religious sentiments;
(b) the current procedure and penalty under the law for violation of religious sentiments by OTT platforms;
(c) whether the Government is planning to formulate any stringent guidelines to check web series and films being released on OTT Platforms and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to prescribe action against the Directors and Producers of such web series or movies being released on OTT Platforms which hurt religious sentiments; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR):


(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *176 FOR ANSWER ON 12.02.2021

(a) to (e) : The Government has received several references regarding various kinds of objectionable content on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms. The Government also has held several consultations with the OTT players, including with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), impressing upon them the need for having an appropriate self-regulatory mechanism for content over OTT platforms.

Content over internet is governed under various provisions of Information Technology Act, 2000. The Central Government has vide notification dated 9.11.2020 amended the Allocation of Business Rules,1961 and the subject relating to content of news and current affairs and audio-visual content on online platforms has been brought in the mandate of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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