Centre Strengthens OTT Safeguards for Children

By Pickle  December 13, 2025

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The Government has announced stricter safeguards for OTT platforms to shield children from age‑inappropriate content, reinforcing the ethical standards under India’s evolving digital media framework.

Citing the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting said the Code of Ethics mandates online content publishers to ensure compliance with legal standards and adopt age-based classification across five content categories. OTT services must also deploy parental locks and technology-driven mechanisms to restrict access to adult material.

The IT Rules provide for a three-tier grievance redressal system—at the publisher, self-regulatory body, and central government levels—balancing accountability with the constitutional right to free expression. The framework also covers publishers of news and current affairs, requiring adherence to the Programme Code and the Press Council’s Norms of Journalistic Conduct.

Responding in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan said that efforts were underway to maintain ethical standards while promoting India’s robust digital creator ecosystem.

He also said multiple initiatives such as the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, the Create in India Challenges (CIC), and the WAVES Bazaar, which empower regional creators and promote local cultural representation in the global digital arena.

The government’s Fact Check Unit (FCU) under the Press Information Bureau continues to verify and flag fake or misleading news related to the central government, while intermediaries like YouTube and Facebook remain obligated to curb false information under the IT Act, 2000.