Mon Dec 16 17:43:53 UTC 2024: **India’s Information & Broadcasting Ministry Warns OTT Platforms Against Glorifying Drug Use**

NEW DELHI, December 17, 2024 — The Indian Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued a strong advisory yesterday to Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, cautioning them against content that inadvertently promotes or glorifies drug use. The advisory cites concerns about the potential negative impact on young viewers, particularly the normalization of drug consumption.

The ministry highlighted that several OTT platforms are showcasing content where the main characters and other actors use narcotics and psychotropic substances, potentially influencing impressionable audiences. This, the advisory states, violates the existing Code of Ethics for OTT platforms, which prohibits content illegal under current laws.

To address this, the ministry advised that programs depicting drug misuse, alcohol, smoking, or tobacco should receive higher age classifications. Content depicting dangerous behavior likely to incite crime, including self-harm, and which could be imitated by children and young people, should also fall under stricter age ratings.

The advisory specifically mandates that OTT platforms prevent their content from glamorizing drug use, emphasizing that any depiction of drug consumption as fashionable or socially acceptable is unacceptable. The ministry referenced sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) that criminalize the production, trafficking and consumption of narcotics, warning that the promotion of such substances via OTT platforms could be considered abetment and face legal consequences.

Furthermore, the ministry urged OTT platforms to comply with the Information Technology Rules, 2021, ensuring proper content classification, warnings, and disclaimers. They also suggested including public health messages and disclaimers about the dangers of drug abuse within programs depicting drug use. The ministry encouraged platforms to incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by creating and promoting content highlighting the adverse health effects of drug abuse.

The advisory concludes by emphasizing that non-compliance may lead to further regulatory scrutiny under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the NDPS Act, 1985. The advisory has also been shared with self-regulatory bodies for OTT platforms.

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