The North News
New Delhi, December 17
The Online streaming content will continue to remain outside the jurisdiction of India’s film censor, the government has told parliament, clarifying that digital platforms are regulated under a separate legal framework. Responding to questions in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan said the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory body established under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, is mandated to certify only cinematographic films meant for public exhibition.
He said content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms is governed by Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Under these rules, OTT platforms are required to follow a Code of Ethics, refrain from publishing content prohibited by law, and carry out age-based classification of programmes in line with prescribed guidelines.
The minister said the rules also provide for a three-tier mechanism to ensure compliance and address public complaints. The first level involves self-regulation by publishers, the second level consists of self-regulating bodies formed by publishers, while the third level provides oversight by the central government.
According to the government, complaints related to OTT content are forwarded to the concerned platforms for action at the first level of the grievance redressal system, as laid down in the IT Rules, 2021.
The information was shared in response to a question raised by Congress MP Dr M K Vishnu Prasad.
