The Union government on Wednesday clarified that content on over-the-top video streaming platforms remains outside the purview of the Central Board of Film Certification, but is regulated under the 2021 Information Technology Rules.

“The Code of Ethics requires OTT platforms to avoid publishing content prohibited by law and undertake age-based classification of content as per the guidelines in the Rules,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan said streaming platforms instead have to follow a three-tier compliance and grievance redressal mechanism.

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This includes self-regulation by the publishers as the first tier, followed by oversight by a self-regulatory body constituted by publishers or their association at the second level.

At the third level, the content is subject to oversight by the Union government’s “Inter-Departmental Committee”, consisting of representatives from the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Women and Child Development, Law and Justice, Home Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology and External Affairs, among others.

In February, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had warned over-the-top platforms against streaming “content that is prohibited by law” following a controversy over sexually explicit comments on a comedy talent show, India’s Got Latent.

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The notification stated that it had received complaints about the “spread of obscene, pornographic and vulgar content by certain publishers of OTT platforms and social media”.

However, the government did not specify the content it was referring to.

The platforms were also directed to ensure age-based content classification and implement self-regulation in line with the 2021 IT Rules.

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