Discussions around OTT content and its censorship have been frequent lately. The central government voiced concerns regarding the language and visual narratives in these digital shows, leading to increased demands for regulation.

While the central government did not fully implement censorship, reports sometimes suggested that the entire OTT content library might fall under CBFC authority.

However, recent updates indicate a different outcome. The CBFC has officially stated it will not certify or examine content available on OTT platforms.

Instead, OTT content operates under Part III of the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021. This Code of Ethics mandates platforms to avoid publishing illegal content and to classify material by age, following the rules.

These Rules also establish a three-tier system for ensuring content standards and addressing public complaints. The CBFC has outlined these three regulatory levels for OTT content: Level I is self-regulation by publishers, Level II is self-regulation by publishers’ self-regulating bodies, and Level III is an oversight mechanism by the Central Government.

Publishers are now responsible for ensuring content streamed on Indian platforms meets local censorship standards. Failure to comply will make the publisher accountable for any content-related consequences.