In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the minister said that this action was taken against those intermediaries and OTT platforms, which violated Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Indian Judicial Code (BNS) and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Ashwini Vaishnav said, “In the last two years, the government has closed public access to 50 OTT platforms in India for displaying obscene content and violating sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, section 294 of the BNS and section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.”
He said that the government takes action on receiving complaints and, using the powers under Section 79(3)(B) of the IT Act, directs the intermediary to remove illegal content or block access to it.
The minister said the government’s digital policy aims to provide an open, secure, reliable and accountable internet for all users, especially children.
He said that the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 together provide a legal framework that promotes digital well-being, user safety and responsible online participation.
Ashwini Vaishnav said that under IT rules it is mandatory for the intermediary to follow due diligence. Also, they have to clearly tell their users that they should not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any content that is harmful to children or violates any law applicable in the country.
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