<p>The Union government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the recently enacted IT regulations were similar to laws in Singapore, EU and Australia and would keep a strong check on objectionable content on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. </p>.<p>In an affidavit filed before the court, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said<br />the rules were notified on February 25, 2021, for social media platforms, OTT players and digital media upon receiving complaints over content.</p>.<p>There is a mechanism for regulation of OTT platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the newly framed Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the affidavit said. </p>.<p>It stated that the government was already seized of the need for developing an institutional mechanism regarding regulation of audio-video content streamed on OTT platforms and it has been in active consultation with stakeholders for over two years.</p>.<p>"Various jurisdictions across the globe like Singapore, European Union, Australia, etc, have also framed similar mechanisms regulating or restricting access on the OTT platforms," it said.</p>.<p>The response from the government came on a plea filed in the top court for regulation of content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms.</p>.<p>The affidavit added that the government had received several complaints, representations from members of civil society, MPs, chief ministers regarding content being streamed on OTT platforms.</p>.<p>"In respect of the Internet, the IT Act has provisions for prohibiting publishing or transmitting content that is obscene, containing sexually explicit act or containing sexually explicit act involving a minor under Sections 67, 67A and 67B," the affidavit said.</p>.<p>It pointed out that there are also provisions for criminal proceedings with punitive measures.</p>.<p>"The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) rules 2021 are comprehensive in nature and framed keeping in view the major audience enjoyed by OTT platforms and maintaining a fine balance so that various age groups are taken into an account and a healthy classification is being done," it said.</p>.<p>The top court on March 5 had observed that the Centre's guidelines on regulating content on OTT platforms were toothless.</p>
<p>The Union government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the recently enacted IT regulations were similar to laws in Singapore, EU and Australia and would keep a strong check on objectionable content on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. </p>.<p>In an affidavit filed before the court, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said<br />the rules were notified on February 25, 2021, for social media platforms, OTT players and digital media upon receiving complaints over content.</p>.<p>There is a mechanism for regulation of OTT platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the newly framed Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the affidavit said. </p>.<p>It stated that the government was already seized of the need for developing an institutional mechanism regarding regulation of audio-video content streamed on OTT platforms and it has been in active consultation with stakeholders for over two years.</p>.<p>"Various jurisdictions across the globe like Singapore, European Union, Australia, etc, have also framed similar mechanisms regulating or restricting access on the OTT platforms," it said.</p>.<p>The response from the government came on a plea filed in the top court for regulation of content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms.</p>.<p>The affidavit added that the government had received several complaints, representations from members of civil society, MPs, chief ministers regarding content being streamed on OTT platforms.</p>.<p>"In respect of the Internet, the IT Act has provisions for prohibiting publishing or transmitting content that is obscene, containing sexually explicit act or containing sexually explicit act involving a minor under Sections 67, 67A and 67B," the affidavit said.</p>.<p>It pointed out that there are also provisions for criminal proceedings with punitive measures.</p>.<p>"The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) rules 2021 are comprehensive in nature and framed keeping in view the major audience enjoyed by OTT platforms and maintaining a fine balance so that various age groups are taken into an account and a healthy classification is being done," it said.</p>.<p>The top court on March 5 had observed that the Centre's guidelines on regulating content on OTT platforms were toothless.</p>