The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has advised OTT platforms and other intermediaries to stop airing content having its origin in Pakistan in the light of increased tensions between India and Pakistan owing to terrorists killing innocent tourists in Kashmir recently.

“In the interest of national security, of all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts, and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origin in Pakistan with immediate effect,” the government advisory stated yesterday.

It comes a day after India made targeted surgical strikes at nine Pakistani sites in response to the killing of tourists. The operation was named ‘Operation Sindoor’, which saw terrorists’ bases being demolished by India armed forces, including via aerial strikes.

The advisory went on to add that rule 3(1) (b) of Part-II of the IT Rules, 2021 provides that intermediaries shall make reasonable efforts by itself, and to cause the users of its computer resource to not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update and share any information that inter-alia “threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order”.

The government had also directed some soc ial media platforms like YouTube to take down content that were spreading disinformation regarding Operation Sindoor and/or propagating Pakistani content.