Govt Mandates Safeguards Over Age-Inappropriate Content on OTT
The central government has reiterated its commitment towards ethical digital media practices while upholding the freedom of speech. In a significant move, the government has mandated OTT (Over-the-top) platforms to implement strict safeguards to prevent access to age-inappropriate content for minors. As per the new norms, OTT platforms are required to classify content into five age-based categories, restrict access to age-inappropriate content by implementing strict parental controls and viewer verification process, and ensure that no prohibited content is transmitted.
The move is aimed at protecting children from exposure to harmful and age-inappropriate content, which has become a significant concern for parents and authorities in recent times. With the rise of OTT platforms, there has been a proliferation of content that is not suitable for minors, including explicit language, violence, and mature themes. The government’s decision to mandate safeguards is a welcome step towards ensuring that children are protected from such content.
Classification of Content
As per the new norms, OTT platforms are required to classify content into five age-based categories: U (Universal), U/A 7+ (Parental guidance for children below 7 years), U/A 13+ (Parental guidance for children below 13 years), U/A 16+ (Parental guidance for children below 16 years), and A (Adult content). This classification will help parents and viewers make informed decisions about the content they want to watch. The classification will also enable OTT platforms to implement age-gating mechanisms to restrict access to age-inappropriate content.
Parental Controls and Viewer Verification
To ensure that minors do not access age-inappropriate content, OTT platforms are required to implement strict parental controls and viewer verification processes. These measures will include password-protected access, PIN-protected access, and age verification through government-issued IDs or other reliable methods. The objective is to prevent children from accessing content that is not suitable for their age group.
Prohibited Content
The government has also mandated that OTT platforms ensure that no prohibited content is transmitted. Prohibited content includes content that promotes violence, hatred, or harm against any individual or group, content that is obscene or explicit, and content that is defamatory or libelous. OTT platforms are required to have a robust content moderation system in place to identify and remove prohibited content.
Freedom of Speech
While the government has mandated safeguards to prevent access to age-inappropriate content, it has also reiterated its commitment to upholding freedom of speech. The government has emphasized that the new norms are not intended to curb creative freedom or stifle dissenting voices. Rather, the objective is to ensure that children are protected from harmful content while adults are free to watch content that is suitable for their age group.
Implications for OTT Platforms
The new norms will have significant implications for OTT platforms. They will be required to invest in content moderation systems, age-gating mechanisms, and parental controls. They will also be required to classify content into age-based categories and ensure that prohibited content is not transmitted. The norms will also require OTT platforms to be transparent about their content moderation policies and to provide clear guidelines to viewers about the type of content that is available on their platforms.
Conclusion
The government’s decision to mandate safeguards over age-inappropriate content on OTT platforms is a welcome step towards protecting children from harmful content. The new norms will help ensure that children are not exposed to content that is not suitable for their age group while adults are free to watch content that is suitable for their age group. The norms will also promote ethical digital media practices and uphold freedom of speech. As the OTT industry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that safeguards are in place to protect children and promote responsible content creation.
Source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx
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