OTT Platforms Have Freedom For Creativity, Not Obscenity: Union Minister Thakur

Nagpur: The rise in obscene and abusive content on various OTT platforms is seen as a concern for society, especially the younger generation.

Even the Union government is taking complaints from several quarters on the issue seriously.

“Abuse in the name of creativity will not be tolerated. The government is serious about the complaints of the increasing abusive and obscene content on OTT platforms. If there is a need to make any changes to the rules over this, the ministry will consider it as well. These platforms were given the freedom for creativity, not obscenity and profanity. When someone crosses a limit, then abuse, in the name of creativity, cannot be accepted at all. The government won’t back down from taking the necessary actions,” Union minister Anurag Thakur said at a press conference here on Sunday.

“The process so far is that the producer has to deal with the complaints initially. 90 to 92% of the complaints are dealt with by producers who make changes in the content,” he observed.

“When complaints come to the government, strict action is taken by the departmental committee according to the rules. The number of complaints has increased in the last few years and the department is taking it very seriously. If we have to make some changes over this, we will think about it very seriously,” Thakur asserted.

Last October, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking censorship of OTT content.

The plea sought directions for pre-screening of all content to committee members before being approved and released for digital streaming in India.