India’s federal Minister of Information Broadcasting Anurag Thakur yesterday issued a warning to OTT platforms, saying obscenity ‘in the name of creativity’ would not be tolerated and indicated government sanctions, including regulation tweaks, if the trend persists.

Interacting with journalists in Nagpur, the Minister brought up the issue of increasing obscenity and abusive language on OTT platforms and expressed the government intent on controlling this trend.

“Abusive language in the name of creativity will not be tolerated. The government is serious about the complaints of increasing abusive and obscene content on OTT platforms. If there is a need to make any changes in the rules regarding this, the ministry is willing to consider that,” Thakur told the media.

He added: “These platforms were given freedom for creativity, not obscenity. And, when someone crosses a limit, then abusing, rudeness in the name of creativity cannot be accepted at all. Whatever necessary action needs to be taken on this, the government will not back down from it.”

At present, according to data put forward by MIB earlier this month, there are 57 OTT platforms, both international and domestic, whose details are with the government. Technically, these platforms could be said to be recognised to offer their services in India, though there’s no licensing process in place presently. However, the chorus for licensing streamers has been growing within and outside parliament.

An official statement from the Ministry added that the Minister also held forth in Nagpur on the present mechanism for redressing complaints related to content on OTT platforms.

“The process so far is that the producer has to resolve the received complaints at the first level. 90 to 92 percent of the complaints are resolved by them by making necessary changes. The next level of complaint resolution is at the level of their associations, where most of the complaints are resolved. At the last level comes…the government, where action is taken on the departmental committee level, according to the rules that are in place,” the Minister explained.

However, he pointed out that in recent times complaints on content have been rising and which is worrisome.

“But complaints have started increasing in the last few days and the department is taking it very seriously. If there is a need to make a change we are willing to consider it seriously,” the Thakur stressed.

Thakur Cautions Media On Anti-India Narrative: Meanwhile, on Saturday (March 18), Thakur urged the media fraternity in the country to remain cautious and desist from giving space to narratives that threaten the nation’s integrity.

Substandard and illogical opinions, delivered freely from within or abroad, could not destroy the democratic nature of the country, he added, according to a PTI report from Kochi.

“I urge the media fraternity to remain cautious and desist from giving its space intentionally or unintentionally to such voices and narratives that have the potential to threaten the integrity of India,” he said.

The minister was speaking while participating as a special guest in the centenary celebrations of eminent Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi.

He said there is a proverb that facts are sacred and opinion is free. “I want to emphasise here that the democratic nature of our great nation will always remain a fact, no matter how many substandard and illogical opinions are delivered freely from within or abroad,” Thakur added.