The government notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on February 25, 2021, under the Information Technology Act, 2000. The rules set up an institutional mechanism covering publishers of news and current affairs on digital media, as well as publishers of online curated content, including OTT platforms.
A code of ethics for digital content
Part III of the IT Rules lays out a Code of Ethics that applies to digital news publishers and to publishers of online curated content. Under this code, OTT platforms can’t transmit content that’s prohibited by law, and they’re expected to exercise due caution and discretion in what they put out.
Platforms also have to classify their content based on a set of parameters: themes and messages, violence, nudity, sex, language, drug and substance abuse, and horror. These categories give platforms a consistent basis for deciding how content should be labelled and who it’s appropriate for.
Beyond this, Part II of the Schedule to the IT Rules goes further, setting out specific guidance for classifying content that touches on psychotropic substances, liquor, smoking and tobacco, and imitable behaviour, the kind of scenes or actions that viewers, particularly younger ones, might be tempted to copy.
Resolving complaints through three tiers
When someone has a complaint about a violation of the Code of Ethics, it moves through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism built into the IT Rules. This structure gives complaints a defined path rather than leaving resolution to individual platforms alone.
In practice, when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting receives a complaint, it forwards that complaint to the concerned OTT platform, which is then responsible for resolving it in line with what the IT Rules require.
A recent advisory on drug-related content
On November 26, 2024, the government issued an advisory to publishers of online curated content, OTT platforms included, specifically addressing how content related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is streamed. The advisory reflects an ongoing effort to keep content classification and platform behaviour aligned with the broader intent of the Code of Ethics, particularly where drug-related material is concerned.
Key Takeaway: Taken together, the IT Rules, 2021 build a fairly detailed framework for how OTT platforms handle sensitive content. Classification requirements cover everything from violence and nudity to liquor, smoking, tobacco, psychotropic substances and imitable behaviour, giving platforms clear categories to work within rather than leaving these calls entirely to individual discretion. The three-tier grievance mechanism then backs this up, offering viewers and other stakeholders a route to raise concerns when they think a platform has fallen short of the Code of Ethics.
This information was shared by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, in a written reply to a question from Shri Haris Beeran in the Rajya Sabha.
MCQ’s:
1. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were notified under which legislation?
A. Cinematograph Act, 1952
B. Information Technology Act, 2000
C. Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
D. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
2. Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, complaints relating to violations of the Code of Ethics by OTT platforms are addressed through:
A. A single-level grievance mechanism managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs
B. A two-tier grievance redressal mechanism
C. A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism
D. The Press Council of India only
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