Government blocks 50 OTT platforms in two years, expands cyber safety drive

NEW DELHI: India is tightening its digital guardrails as concerns over online safety and digital addiction continue to grow. The Centre has disabled 50 OTT platforms over the past two years for hosting obscene content while expanding nationwide cyber awareness initiatives that have reached more than 11.37 lakh people, according to information tabled in Parliament.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union minister for electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government’s digital policies are focused on creating an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet, with particular emphasis on protecting children.

The government said the 50 OTT platforms were blocked under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with other legal provisions including Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, for publishing obscene content.

The ministry said the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 require intermediaries to exercise due diligence and prevent users from uploading or sharing unlawful or child-harmful content.

Recent amendments to the IT Rules also require social media platforms and other intermediaries to remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving an order from a competent court or a reasoned direction from the appropriate government or its authorised agency.

On data privacy, the government highlighted the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which mandates parental consent before processing children’s personal data and prohibits practices such as behavioural tracking, monitoring and targeted advertising aimed at minors.

The ministry also pointed to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, describing it as a key measure to address digital addiction and financial harm among young people.

The government cited the Economic Survey 2025-26, which identified digital addiction as a growing public health challenge, particularly among people aged 15 to 29. According to the survey, excessive use of smartphones, gaming, social media and online gambling can adversely affect cognitive development, academic performance, workplace productivity and mental health, while also contributing to cyberbullying and financial losses.

Alongside regulatory measures, the Centre has expanded its cyber awareness programme under the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project. So far, 6,650 workshops have been conducted across the country, covering more than 11.37 lakh participants, including students, teachers, law enforcement personnel, government officials and members of the public.

The government has also released multilingual awareness material, including handbooks, videos, posters, brochures and illustrated stories for children, through print, electronic and social media platforms as well as dedicated online portals.

Meanwhile, CERT-In continues to publish cybersecurity advisories, awareness campaigns and online safety resources to help internet users identify and prevent cyber threats.

The education sector has also been brought into the effort. The Ministry of Education’s PRAGYATA Guidelines promote responsible use of digital devices in schools, while CBSE has introduced digital etiquette guidelines, cybersecurity training for teachers and encouraged schools to establish Cyber Clubs. NCERT has incorporated cyber safety into its senior secondary curriculum and developed educational resources to improve digital awareness among students.

The latest measures underscore the government’s broader strategy of combining regulation, privacy safeguards and public awareness to create a safer digital environment, particularly for children and young internet users.