Madras High Court Issues Notice To Centre On Plea Seeking Regulation Of Content On OTT Platforms

The bench of Justice R Subramanian and Justice Victoria Gowri issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information Broadcasting, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Ministry of Information Technology, Central Board of Film Certification, Home Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government and the Director General of Police.

The petitioner, Advocate Adhisivam argued that since there was no censorship over the OTT platforms, movies, web series and serials were being aired through these platforms which contained violence, drug abuse, obscene speech, scenes of crime against women and children, separatist scenes and anti-national views, and scenes supporting extremist views.

He contended that web series creators had a habit of twisting history for their political gain and showing unimaginable violence and nudity without any censorship. He argued that the OTT platforms don't allow films that portray a nationalist to make films that focus on the integrity and unity of India.

Adhisivam also submitted that youth watching content on OTT platforms may even have serious mental and psychological problems as poisonous ideas are being spread among the youth. He pointed out that the convenience of OTT platforms encourages prolonged periods of screen time, contributing to a sedentary lifestyle. He added that lack of physical activity has been linked to various health issues including obesity, cardiovascular problems, and muscular disorders. Apart from the physical problems, Adhisivam pointed out that excessive engagement with OTT content can lead to reduced face-to-face interactions and hinder the development of strong interpersonal skills.

He added that the nation and the future of the younger generation will be in question if the cinema, web series, and serials in the OTT platform are not censored and controlled. He submitted that the absence of stringent content regulation could lead to exposure of youth to age-inappropriate content, impacting their psychological development.

Case Title: S Adhisivam v The Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Others

Case No: WP (MD) 22782 of 2024