The notification began by stating that it had received complaints about the "spread of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content by certain publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and social media".
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has advised social media channels and OTT platforms to follow the Code of Ethics as prescribed under the IT Rules of 2021 along with self regulation and implementing 'A' rating for content that is not intended for children to consume.
This notification from MIB comes days after the Supreme Court heard the case against podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia's 'inappropriate' joke during an episode of a comedy show on YouTube.
Following the advice of the apex court, a parliamentary panel asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to provide a report on how well current laws handle such cases and recommend changes to ensure online platforms are properly regulated.
The notification began by stating that it had received complaints about the "spread of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content by certain publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and social media".
According to the Ministry, the OTT platforms should "not transmit any content which is prohibited by law (and) undertake age-based classification of content", as per the IT Rules.
"Further, the Rules provide that self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms shall oversee and ensure alignment and adherence by the OTT platforms to the Code of Ethics," the notification added.
The notification further added, "In view of the above it is advised OTT platforms adhere to various provisions of applicable laws, and Code of Ethics prescribed under IT Rules, 2021 while publishing content on platforms, including stricter adherence of age-based classification of content prescribed under Code of Ethics."
The Supreme Court on February 18 granted interim protection from arrest to podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia over his comments on a YouTube show while calling it "vulgar" and saying he had "dirty mind" which put the society to shame.
Several FIRs were lodged against Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, for the comment on parents and sex on comic Samay Raina's YouTube show "India's Got Latent".
Justice Surya Kant who was hearing the case stated, "Where is the question of an individual's morality? We can understand if one person says I don't like these kinds of words. You tell us, if there is anyone on earth who would like these kinds of words. You are insulting parents… We don't want to say anything further but there is something very dirty in his mind that has been vomited by him in this kind of a programme. Why should the court entertain this kind of person? You please tell us."
A bench of Justice Kant and N Kotiswar Singh told senior advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, who was representing Allahbadia, "The words you have chosen, the parents will feel ashamed, daughters and sisters will feel ashamed, your younger brother will feel ashamed, the entire society will feel ashamed."
The court further stated that it would not "leave a vacuum" and would take action if needed.
"Union of India is a party... We would like to do something. Government of India will willingly do it, we will be very happy. Otherwise, we are not going to leave this vacuum. The way it is being misused by so-called YouTube channels... we have issued notice..." it said.