The government has clarified that OTT platforms will not be brought under the jurisdiction of the Central Board of Film Certification, which currently certifies films for theatrical release. The clarification was given in Parliament as part of an ongoing discussion on the regulation of digital media and online content.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan informed the Lok Sabha that OTT platforms are regulated under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and not under the Cinematograph Act. He stated that there is no proposal at present to extend CBFC certification to content streamed on digital platforms.
Under the IT Rules, OTT platforms are required to follow a code of ethics, implement age-based content classification, and ensure that prohibited or unlawful content is not hosted. The framework also mandates a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism, beginning with self-regulation by platforms, followed by oversight through self-regulatory bodies, and government intervention only in unresolved cases.
The government’s clarification comes amid recurring calls for tighter regulation of streaming content and reinforces its position that digital platforms should be governed through the existing IT framework rather than traditional film censorship norms.
