Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued advisory on adherence of Indian Laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on Wednesday, February 19, news agency ANI reported. This latest advisory by the ministry came in a wake of the ongoing controversy over an 'India's Got Latent' episode, where podcaster and influence, Ranveer Allhabadia made an 'inappropriate' remark during his guest appearance in the show Advisory highlights six major points The advisory highlighted six key points directed at online content publishers and self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms, stressing the importance of complying with existing laws and maintaining ethical standards. The ministry said in its advisory, "This ministry has received references from Hon’ble Members of Parliament, representations from statutory organizations and public grievances regarding alleged spread of obscene, pornographic and vulgar content published by certain publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and Social Media." The advisory also reads, "It is advised that the OTT platforms adhere to the various provisions of applicable laws, and the Code of Ethics prescribed under IT Rules, 2021 while publishing content on their platforms, including stricter adherence of the age-based classification of content prescribed under the Code of Ethics. Further, Self-regulatory Bodies of OTT platforms are requested to take appropriate proactive action for violation of Code of Ethics by the platforms." Central govt is planning to introduce Digital India Bill Meanwhile, the central government is planning to introduce the Digital India Bill to replace the existing IT Act. This new law aims to prevent obscenity on social media and regulate YouTubers and digital content creators. The government has been working on this bill for 15 months and will include specific rules for different sectors like telecommunications, IT, and media. What triggered the decision? The government is revisiting the Digital India Bill due to the controversy surrounding social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia. However, it has decided to keep AI governance separate as it requires different regulations. Right now, the government’s priority is to respond to the Supreme Court on how it plans to fix the shortcomings of the IT Act. Additionally, the Parliamentary Committee on IT has asked for answers on how the government will control obscene content online. Other government guidelines regarding content creation The Indian government introduced IT Rules 2021, updated on April 6, 2023, to regulate social media, films, and web series. Platforms must categorize content, add warnings, and have grievance officers to handle complaints. Content must follow laws and avoid obscenity, anti-national themes, and harm to children or women. Two stages of monitoring Content Regulation Process in India Banned apps' videos available on Telegram On March 12, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting blocked 18 OTT platforms showing obscene content. In addition, 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 related social media accounts were also shut down. The ministry's press note listed the names of all 18 OTT platforms. The press note stated that these can no longer be accessed anywhere in India. Our investigation found that while websites and OTT platforms are blocked, content from 11 out of 18 banned apps is still available on Telegram. Channels using these app names continue to post videos, even after March 2024. Additionally, new mobile apps are being created to download controversial videos, with uploads continuing until February 16, 2025.Original Article by Dainik Bhaskar