The Central Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating safer digital environments for children by enforcing stronger safeguards on OTT platforms to prevent exposure to age-inappropriate and harmful content. The updated stance was outlined in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, in response to a query raised by MP Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the spread of misleading, inappropriate and harmful digital content accessible to minors across online streaming and social media platforms.
The Government emphasised that while freedom of speech is protected under Article 19(1) of the Constitution, the rapid expansion of digital media has also led to a rise in fake, misleading and harmful online content. This, it noted, makes regulatory safeguards essential—especially to protect children and vulnerable users.
The Centre clarified that its approach seeks to balance constitutional freedoms with public interest, child safety and digital accountability.
To address these challenges, the Government highlighted the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, notified under the IT Act, 2000, which lay down a comprehensive regulatory structure for OTT platforms and digital news publishers.
Under Part III of the IT Rules, OTT platforms are required to:
Avoid hosting or publishing content prohibited by law
Classify content based on age suitability across five categories
Implement effective parental controls
Put in place additional safeguards to restrict children’s access to unsuitable material
These provisions are aimed at ensuring that minors are not inadvertently exposed to content that could be harmful or inappropriate for their age group.
The Rules also mandate that publishers of news and current affairs content adhere to:
The Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995
The Press Council of India’s Norms of Journalistic Conduct
These standards prohibit the dissemination of inaccurate, misleading or half-truth content, reinforcing credibility and accountability in digital journalism.
To ensure effective enforcement, the IT Rules establish a three-tier grievance redressal framework:
First point of grievance handling
Industry-led oversight by publishers
Final level of review and intervention
The Government stated that this system ensures accountability while preserving freedom of the press and expression.
Part II of the IT Rules, administered by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), places obligations on intermediaries such as YouTube and Facebook. These platforms are required to take reasonable efforts to prevent the spread of patently false or misleading information on their services.
The Government also highlighted that the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit (FCU), operational since November 2019, verifies news related to the Central Government and disseminates accurate information through its official channels.
Additionally, under Section 69A of the IT Act, the Government has the authority to block websites, social media accounts or individual posts in the interest of:
National security
Public order
Sovereignty and integrity of India
Alongside regulation, the Government underlined its efforts to empower India’s digital creators, citing several initiatives:
A global platform to showcase India’s media and entertainment potential
Industry-linked training programmes
Support for converting regional talent into professional content
A national marketplace connecting Indian creators with global buyers
A unified OTT platform to showcase and monetise regional content
These initiatives aim to foster a responsible, inclusive and globally competitive digital content ecosystem.