Laws regulating OTT platforms need to be strengthened: Vaishnaw in LS

The government on Wednesday said in Lok Sabha that there was an urgent need to strengthen laws to regulate the flow of content and information on social media and Over The Top platforms.

Answering a question by actor-politician Arun Govil on vulgar content on OTT platforms, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said due to complete breakdown of editorial checks, social media has today become a medium for freedom of expression and at the same time a medium for the flow of unbridled expression with vulgar content.

“Existing laws need to be strengthened to check this trend and I seek consensus of the House for the same,” said Vaishnaw.

He said in the age of social media and OTTs, the pre-existing system of editorial content regulation has completely collapsed and there was a need to bring it back.

The government's stand on the issue comes close on the heels of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's open call on Vijayadashmi to regulate OTT platforms.

Bhagwat had in his customary Vijayadashmi address from RSS headquarters in Nagpur's Resham Bagh this year blamed OTT platforms for perpetrating moral corruption in society.

“It would be improper to even speak about the kind of content being shown on OTT platforms. This needs to be controlled through laws because OTT content has become one of the principal causes of moral corruption in Indian society,” Bhagwat said.

RSS chief had also cautioned consumers of OTT platforms on the issue.