India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Thursday (Mar 14) banned 18 OTT platforms for publishing obscene, vulgar, and in some cases pornographic content. Not just OTT platforms, the ministry has also pulled down websites, apps and several social media accounts.

 
In total 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites, 10 apps (seven on Google Play Store, three on Apple App store) and 57 social media accounts have been disabled.&nbsp; 
 
In a statement issued by the ministry, “A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and portrayed women in a demeaning manner”.

Commenting on the nature of the content available on these platforms, the government said, “It depicted nudity and sexual acts in various inappropriate contexts, such as relationships between teachers and students, incestuous family relationships, etc.”&nbsp;

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The move came after the said platforms failed to act upon the warnings sent by the ministry in previous months.&nbsp; 
 
The name of the banned OTT platforms include Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, Tri Flicks, X Prime, Neon X VIP, Besharams, Hunters, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, MoodX, Mojflix, Hot Shots VIP, Fugi, Chikooflix, and Prime Play.&nbsp; 
 
Several of these platforms had content that had sexual innuendos and in some segment had prolonged segments of pornographic and sexually explicit scenes devoid of any thematic or societal relevance. 
 
Most of these banned platforms have huge followers and subscribers.

One of the banned OTT apps gained more than 10 million downloads, while two others had over five million downloads on the Google Play Store. 
&nbsp;

India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Thursday (Mar 14) banned 18 OTT platforms for publishing obscene, vulgar, and in some cases pornographic content.

India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Thursday (Mar 14) banned 18 OTT platforms for publishing obscene, vulgar, and in some cases pornographic content. Not just OTT platforms, the ministry has also pulled down websites, apps and several social media accounts. In total 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites, 10 apps (seven on Google Play Store, three on Apple App store) and 57 social media accounts have been disabled. In a statement issued by the ministry, “A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and portrayed women in a demeaning manner”. Commenting on the nature of the content available on these platforms, the government said, “It depicted nudity and sexual acts in various inappropriate contexts, such as relationships between teachers and students, incestuous family relationships, etc.” The move came after the said platforms failed to act upon the warnings sent by the ministry in previous months. The name of the banned OTT platforms include Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, Tri Flicks, X Prime, Neon X VIP, Besharams, Hunters, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, MoodX, Mojflix, Hot Shots VIP, Fugi, Chikooflix, and Prime Play. Several of these platforms had content that had sexual innuendos and in some segment had prolonged segments of pornographic and sexually explicit scenes devoid of any thematic or societal relevance. Most of these banned platforms have huge followers and subscribers. One of the banned OTT apps gained more than 10 million downloads, while two others had over five million downloads on the Google Play Store.

Indian govt bans 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites over obscene and vulgar content 

If there was one thing that had remained constant — so far — in the 46-month-old Modi government, it was the steadfastness with which the government stuck to many of its controversial decisions, refusing to buckle under criticism or adverse public opinion.&nbsp;

April 3, 2018 changed that.

The government's decision to roll back a proposed crackdown on “fake news” in less than 24 hours could arguably be the first and most significant retreat of the Modi government as it nears completing four years in office and plans to get into election mode with just over a year remaining for the next Lok Sabha polls.

The crackdown — which mandated penalties ranging from the suspension to the cancellation of the accreditation of journalists found guilty of reporting “fake news” — was proposed by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry piloted by Smriti Irani. It was disposed of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Could it be the case that the government had not factored in the furore that erupted following the I&B ministry's diktat? Unlikely. Was it an attempt at testing the waters then? One thing is clear: the speed at which the course-correction took place was unprecedented.

On the face of it, many would think that the I&B ministry erred and was set right by the Prime Minister's Office. But those who cover the government know only too well the overarching control the PMO exercises on all the ministries. Simply put, to think that Irani's ministry could have come up with the diktat without keeping the PMO in the loop is being naive at best. And the Prime Minister directing that the press release regarding fake news be withdrawn and that the matter should only be addressed by the Press Council of India is nothing more than damage control.

Now coming to the diktat itself. Was it really about fake news? That's the big question. Those who would have been impacted by the amended guidelines were journalists accredited with the Government of India — mostly working for the national media and covering the Central government. Does the government have enough reason to believe that these “accredited journalists” are peddling “fake news”? Or was it just an attempt to create a mechanism to muzzle some inconvenient voices — accredited ones, of course.

What made the I&B directive more curious was that it proposed nothing to deal with social media — the most fertile breeding ground for fake news in today's India. Instead, it proposed something bordering on the draconian — immediate suspension of a journalist's accreditation the moment a complaint is registered and sent for inquiry to the Press Council of India or the News Broadcasters Association.

As a barrage of criticism broke loose, the I&B ministry made a feeble attempt at arguing that the “fake news” cases will be determined by PCI and NBA which are not “regulated” or “operated” by the Central government. That is akin to saying the I&B ministry maintains an arm's length distance from Prasar Bharati.

Off the record, in private conversations, central bureaucrats and political insiders have often underlined how the incumbent government was not a “rollback sarkar”. Let's a take a few examples from the I&B ministry itself. Pune's FTII was on the boil for months following Gajendra Chauhan's appointment to its helm, but the government did not budge. As CBFC chief, Pahlaj Nihalani not only kept raising the hackles of the Hindi film industry but was also an embarrassment to the government. But he was persisted with. Because this was not a rollback government, the government machinery argued.&nbsp;

April 3, 2018 changed that.

And to think that Smriti Irani's I&B ministry could have come up with the diktat, proposing the cancellation of the accreditation of journalists found guilty of publishing 'fake news', without keeping the PMO in the loop is being naive at best

If there was one thing that had remained constant — so far — in the 46-month-old Modi government, it was the steadfastness with which the government stuck to many of its controversial decisions, refusing to buckle under criticism or adverse public opinion. April 3, 2018 changed that. The government's decision to roll back a proposed crackdown on “fake news” in less than 24 hours could arguably be the first and most significant retreat of the Modi government as it nears completing four years in office and plans to get into election mode with just over a year remaining for the next Lok Sabha polls. The crackdown — which mandated penalties ranging from the suspension to the cancellation of the accreditation of journalists found guilty of reporting “fake news” — was proposed by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry piloted by Smriti Irani. It was disposed of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Could it be the case that the government had not factored in the furore that erupted following the I&B ministry's diktat? Unlikely. Was it an attempt at testing the waters then? One thing is clear: the speed at which the course-correction took place was unprecedented. On the face of it, many would think that the I&B ministry erred and was set right by the Prime Minister's Office. But those who cover the government know only too well the overarching control the PMO exercises on all the ministries. Simply put, to think that Irani's ministry could have come up with the diktat without keeping the PMO in the loop is being naive at best. And the Prime Minister directing that the press release regarding fake news be withdrawn and that the matter should only be addressed by the Press Council of India is nothing more than damage control. Now coming to the diktat itself. Was it really about fake news? That's the big question. Those who would have been impacted by the amended guidelines were journalists accredited with the Government of India — mostly working for the national media and covering the Central government. Does the government have enough reason to believe that these “accredited journalists” are peddling “fake news”? Or was it just an attempt to create a mechanism to muzzle some inconvenient voices — accredited ones, of course. What made the I&B directive more curious was that it proposed nothing to deal with social media — the most fertile breeding ground for fake news in today's India. Instead, it proposed something bordering on the draconian — immediate suspension of a journalist's accreditation the moment a complaint is registered and sent for inquiry to the Press Council of India or the News Broadcasters Association. As a barrage of criticism broke loose, the I&B ministry made a feeble attempt at arguing that the “fake news” cases will be determined by PCI and NBA which are not “regulated” or “operated” by the Central government. That is akin to saying the I&B ministry maintains an arm's length distance from Prasar Bharati. Off the record, in private conversations, central bureaucrats and political insiders have often underlined how the incumbent government was not a “rollback sarkar”. Let's a take a few examples from the I&B ministry itself. Pune's FTII was on the boil for months following Gajendra Chauhan's appointment to its helm, but the government did not budge. As CBFC chief, Pahlaj Nihalani not only kept raising the hackles of the Hindi film industry but was also an embarrassment to the government. But he was persisted with. Because this was not a rollback government, the government machinery argued. April 3, 2018 changed that.

Opinion: Rollback of fake news crackdown is Modi government's first, most significant retreat

Congress president on Tuesday called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimimg that Modi made a U-turn on his "own order" on fake news, and said one could clearly see "a loss of control and panic setting in".

He tweeted with the hashtag #BasEkAurSaal keeping in mind the Lok Sabha elections that are due in 2019.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Sensing mounting anger on the “fake news” notification, the PM orders a U-Turn on his own order. 
 
One can clearly see a loss of control and panic setting in now. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BasEkAurSaal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BasEkAurSaal</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/981142156533555200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Modi today ordered the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to cancel its contentious guidelines on fake news after widespread criticism and outcry by journalists and opposition parties who dubbed these norms an attempt to "muzzle" the free press.

Soon after, the ministry issued a statement, saying press release regarding fake news put out by it last night "stands withdrawn."

In the release, the ministry had said: "Noticing the increasing instances of fake news in various mediums including print and electronic media, the Government has amended the Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists. Now on receiving any complaints of such instances of fake news, the same would get referred to the Press Council of India (PCI) if it pertains to print media & to News Broadcasters Association (NBA) if it relates to electronic media, for determination of the news item being fake or not."

“Determination is expected to be completed within 15 days by these regulating agencies. Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the correspondent or journalist whoever created or propagated the fake news will, if accredited, have the accreditation suspended till such time the determination regarding the fake news is made by the regulating agencies mentioned above," the statement further mentioned.

Earlier in the day while addressing a public meeting in Karnataka, Rahul had also hit out at the Prime Minister for "not uttering a word" on the alleged atrocities on Dalits and tribals and "dilution" of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Rahul is currently in the fifth leg of his tour of the poll-bound Karnataka.&nbsp;

Modi today ordered the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to cancel its contentious guidelines on fake news after widespread criticism and outcry by journalists and opposition parties who dubbed these norms an attempt to 'muzzle' the free press

Congress president on Tuesday called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimimg that Modi made a U-turn on his "own order" on fake news, and said one could clearly see "a loss of control and panic setting in". He tweeted with the hashtag #BasEkAurSaal keeping in mind the Lok Sabha elections that are due in 2019. Sensing mounting anger on the “fake news” notification, the PM orders a U-Turn on his own order. One can clearly see a loss of control and panic setting in now. #BasEkAurSaal — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 3, 2018 × Modi today ordered the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to cancel its contentious guidelines on fake news after widespread criticism and outcry by journalists and opposition parties who dubbed these norms an attempt to "muzzle" the free press. Soon after, the ministry issued a statement, saying press release regarding fake news put out by it last night "stands withdrawn." In the release, the ministry had said: "Noticing the increasing instances of fake news in various mediums including print and electronic media, the Government has amended the Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists. Now on receiving any complaints of such instances of fake news, the same would get referred to the Press Council of India (PCI) if it pertains to print media & to News Broadcasters Association (NBA) if it relates to electronic media, for determination of the news item being fake or not." “Determination is expected to be completed within 15 days by these regulating agencies. Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the correspondent or journalist whoever created or propagated the fake news will, if accredited, have the accreditation suspended till such time the determination regarding the fake news is made by the regulating agencies mentioned above," the statement further mentioned. Earlier in the day while addressing a public meeting in Karnataka, Rahul had also hit out at the Prime Minister for "not uttering a word" on the alleged atrocities on Dalits and tribals and "dilution" of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Rahul is currently in the fifth leg of his tour of the poll-bound Karnataka.

Loss of control and panic setting in: Rahul Gandhi on rollback of fake news crackdown

In a move to regulate the airing of adult content on television the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory which directs television channels to not to air condom advertisements from 6 am to 10 pm.

The advisory came after a complaint was filed stating that some channels aired the advertisement repeatedly. It also said that the ads were &quot;unsuitable for viewing&quot;.

The ministry added that they had been receiving complaints that the condom ads were indecent, particularly for children.&nbsp;

The restriction has been imposed based on the Clause of the Television Network Rules of 1994.&nbsp;Rule 7(7) and 7(8) of the clause prohibits content that is &quot;indecent, vulger, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes of treatment.&quot; and which &quot; endangers the safety of the children&quot;.

Citing the clause the ministry directed that television channels should not air such regularly.&nbsp;

The ministry has also warned that not adhering&nbsp;to the advisory would lead to&quot; action as per provision of the rules&quot;.

The government has allowed the telecast of these ads between 10 pm to 5 am.&nbsp; 
 
The advisory was issued on Monday.

In a move to regulate the airing of adult content on television the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory which directs television channels to not to air condom advertisements from 6 am to 10 pm

In a move to regulate the airing of adult content on television the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory which directs television channels to not to air condom advertisements from 6 am to 10 pm. The advisory came after a complaint was filed stating that some channels aired the advertisement repeatedly. It also said that the ads were "unsuitable for viewing". The ministry added that they had been receiving complaints that the condom ads were indecent, particularly for children. The restriction has been imposed based on the Clause of the Television Network Rules of 1994. Rule 7(7) and 7(8) of the clause prohibits content that is "indecent, vulger, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes of treatment." and which " endangers the safety of the children". Citing the clause the ministry directed that television channels should not air such regularly. The ministry has also warned that not adhering to the advisory would lead to" action as per provision of the rules". The government has allowed the telecast of these ads between 10 pm to 5 am. The advisory was issued on Monday.

Government issues advisory to restrict contraceptive ads on television