Odisha MP Raises Demand For Censorship Of Web Channels, OTT Content In Rajya Sabha

Bhubaneswar: The long debated issue of the need for a censorship on OTT platforms was raised by BJD MP Prasanna Acharya in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The MP from Odisha stated that obscene scenes and content spreading religious hatred in OTT platforms and web channels should be censored. He said, “Taking advantage of the unprecedented rise in demand for OTT and web channels during the pandemic time, the platforms are showing very obscene pictures and sometimes using very objectionable language… (this) is having a very bad impact, particularly on the younger generation.”

“If there was a censorship provision, this could not have happened,” he said. Like there is a censor board for films, web channels should also have one.

“In the name of freedom of creativity and in the name of expression of views, we cannot encourage debauchery and exploitation of women and disrespecting religious sentiments,” he said.

Citing that the Delhi High Court recently pulled up microblogging platform Twitter for allowing objectional comments against religious communities, creating an atmosphere of intolerance, Acharya said “Law should be made to impose censorship on web channels who are taking undue advantage of not being censored and spreading hatred among religions and communities.”