India Strengthens Creative Freedom While Regulating OTT Content

The Central Government on Wednesday renewed its pledge to protect creative freedom, highlighting regulations for Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms enforced via the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. In a detailed written response in Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw affirmed that Article 19 of the Constitution secures freedom of expression, including artistic creativity. However, he stressed the need for a structured oversight of OTT platforms to mitigate the negative impact of harmful content.

According to Part III of the IT Rules, 2021, OTT platforms and digital news publishers must comply with a Code of Ethics. These platforms are prohibited from distributing content contravening laws in effect. The rules establish a three-tier grievance redressal framework: Level I involves 'Self-regulation by the publishers,' Level II encompasses 'Self-regulation through self-regulating bodies of the publishers,' and Level III constitutes an 'Oversight mechanism operated by the Central Government.'

Complaints received by the Ministry are directly forwarded to OTT platforms for resolution as per IT Rules, 2021. Following discussions with relevant Ministries, the Government has blocked 43 platforms exhibiting obscene content. The Minister also briefed the House on the government's communication outreach, managed by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), which disseminates official messages across various media channels.

Highlighting initiatives to fortify India's creative economy, Vaishnaw announced the government's active promotion of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector. Identified as a pivotal component of the creative ecosystem, a national task force created in April 2022 has drawn up a strategic growth roadmap for the sector. The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025 in Mumbai aimed to position India as a global media and entertainment hub. The event included the Create in India Challenge, drawing extensive participation in diverse creative fields. Other features included the WAVES Bazaar, the WaveX accelerator, and educational sessions on AI, XR, storytelling, and digital content creation.

In a significant development, the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) has been established to advance creative technologies education, focused on an industry-oriented curriculum and aligning with global best practices, supported by a funding of Rs 392.85 crore. Modeled after top Indian institutes like IITs and IIMs, IICT emphasizes advanced training in creative technologies, collaborating with global technology giants such as Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, and WPP. The inaugural curriculum features specialized courses in gaming, post-production, animation, comics, and XR. More information can be accessed through the IICT website. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)