Ashwini Vaishnav Announces Massive OTT Ban to Safeguard Children

During a written response in the Lok Sabha on July 22, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav revealed that fifty OTT platforms had been barred from public access for violating key sections of Indian law.

The platforms allegedly breached Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The government acted swiftly under the powers granted by Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, instructing the offending intermediaries to remove the illegal content or block access to it.

Vaishnav emphasized that the decision reflects the government's commitment to a Digital Policy that ensures a safe, reliable, and accountable internet environment, particularly for children. The combined legal framework of the IT Act and the 2021 Intermediary Guidelines reinforces digital wellbeing, user security, and responsible online participation.

Under the new rules, OTT platforms must conduct rigorous due diligence and clearly communicate to users that any content harmful to children or in breach of Indian law must not be hosted, displayed, uploaded, modified, published, transmitted, updated, or shared.