iWorld
OTT industry working on compliance with new IT rules
Kolkata: For the last few months, the new regulations introduced for over-the-top platforms at the beginning of this year, has been the talk of the town. As the new rules introduced by the government came into effect on 26 May, the industry is working towards complying with all the rules. However, both the self-regulatory bodies, the newly formed digital segment under Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI ) have asked for additional time, as per industry sources.
On 27 May, the digital media division of the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) wrote to the OTT and digital media publishers to furnish all their details and compliance status under Rule 18 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Codes) Rules, 2021 within 15 days.
Soon thereafter, IDBF announced the appointment of Justice (retd.) Vikramjit Sen as chairman, along with six other media and entertainment industry members for its newly formed Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC). IAMAI followed suit and announced its self-regulatory body for streaming content companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council’s (DPCGC) Grievance Redressal Board (GRB) will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Arjan Kumar Sikri, it announced.
The withdrawal of broadcaster-led OTTs such as Disney+Hotstar, Zee5, SonyLIV from IAMAI has created two lobbies in the industry. International tech and media giants like Netflix, Amazon have stayed with IAMAI, along with tech giant Apple who also joined the body recently. Several independent bodies have also decided to remain under IAMAI.
According to a senior official with a leading OTT, both are in touch with MIB and have asked for additional time. While the ministry may grant some extension, it seems it is not very happy with the fact that “people have been toying around deadlines”, the official added.
“IBF has to work on the registration, including a new name, trademark for its new body, and IAMAI has to work on the formation of its second-tier mechanism. IBF has assured that it would come up with rigid guidelines exactly based on the code of ethics”, he added.
Indiantelevision.com surfed through websites of leading platforms like MX Player, Zee5, SonyLIV, Disney+Hotstar, and found details of the grievance redressal officers identified by the respective platforms. Moreover, most of the leading platforms have already classified age-rating on their shows, some of the platforms have even rated the overall show, still others have rated each episode wise.
According to a Hindustan Times report over 800 OTT platforms including video streaming services such as Netflix and Hotstar, and digital news media outfits, have shared details under the new IT rules. Most of the top OTT players have shared the details including Netflix, Amazon, Jio, the report said, quoting an unnamed MIB official.
The new rules apply to digital news publishers as well. While traditional media companies with digital footprints asked for an exemption. But MIB clarified that it would not grant any relief because making an exception of the nature proposed “will be discriminatory to the digital news publishers who do not have a traditional TV/print platform.”
The News Broadcasters Federation has stated on Friday that all its current members have duly complied with the requirements of the new rules by providing required information of their entities. However, the new rules have been challenged in court by a few digital news media outfits including LiveLaw and The Wire.
iWorld
Karnataka to ban social media for children under 16; Meta warns of risks
Meta urges parental oversight over blanket bans as debate on child online safety grows
KARNATAKA: Karnataka may bar children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday while presenting the state budget. This marks the most definitive move yet by an Indian state to regulate young users online.
The proposal aims to limit the harmful effects of excessive mobile and social media use among children, the chief minister said, amid growing concerns about screen addiction and mental health.
If implemented, Karnataka would become the first state in India to formally move towards a ban on social media access for minors under 16. Other states, including Andhra Pradesh and Goa, have previously said they were examining similar measures.
The idea has been under discussion within the state government for months. Earlier this year, state minister for information technology and biotechnology Priyank Kharge, told the legislative assembly that the government was studying ways to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media by young users.
Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has also raised concerns about excessive screen exposure among children. Meanwhile, BJP MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar urged the government to treat the issue seriously, warning that unrestricted social media use could affect both education and family life.
Siddaramaiah had previously discussed the issue with university vice-chancellors as well, seeking their views on restricting mobile phone use among children under 16.
Karnataka’s proposal comes amid a widening global debate over children’s access to social media.
Countries such as Australia have introduced stricter limits on younger users, while governments in the United Kingdom and Finland have also been exploring regulatory safeguards.
In parts of Europe, including France and Spain, schools have imposed restrictions on smartphone use in classrooms to reduce distraction and improve student focus.
Policymakers worldwide are increasingly concerned about the impact of social media algorithms, digital addiction and online risks on minors.
India’s Economic Survey 2025–26 also flagged excessive smartphone use among young people, linking it to sleep disruption, anxiety, reduced attention spans and rising academic stress.
Experts say the dangers extend beyond simple screen addiction.
Cybersecurity specialists warn that children often share personal information online without understanding privacy implications. Social media platforms, gaming apps and messaging services routinely collect location data, behavioural patterns, voice samples and browsing habits, creating digital profiles that could later be misused for surveillance, identity theft or targeted manipulation.
Online grooming is another growing concern. Law enforcement agencies globally have warned that predators increasingly use social media, gaming chats and messaging platforms to gain the trust of minors before exploiting them.
Artificial intelligence is also complicating the landscape. AI-powered recommendation systems and chatbots can keep children engaged for long periods while collecting behavioural data. In some cases, experts say these systems may inadvertently expose young users to harmful content.
Technology companies, however, argue that outright bans may not be the most effective solution.
Responding to the proposal, Meta said governments should prioritise parental oversight rather than blanket restrictions.
A Meta spokesperson said the company shares the goal of creating safer online experiences for young users but believes parents should ultimately decide which apps their teenagers use.
“We want the same thing as lawmakers: safe, positive online experiences for young people and believe parents should decide which apps their teens use,” the spokesperson said.
The company warned that sweeping bans could push teenagers towards less regulated websites or workarounds that bypass existing safety protections.
“Governments considering bans should be careful not to push teens toward less safe, unregulated sites, or logged-out experiences that bypass important protections,” the spokesperson added, pointing to safeguards such as Instagram’s Teen Accounts.
Meta also argued that focusing on a handful of platforms may not address the broader issue, noting that teenagers typically use dozens of apps each week. Experts say blanket bans may prove difficult to enforce in practice. Young users could circumvent restrictions through virtual private networks, anonymous accounts or lesser-known platforms that operate outside major regulatory frameworks.
Because digital platforms also provide access to educational resources, coding communities and creative opportunities, policymakers are increasingly exploring a middle path. That approach combines age-based safeguards, stronger privacy protections, parental supervision and digital literacy programmes instead of outright bans.
