Summary:

• India minister Anurag Thakur has suggested that the government may censor or change rules governing content on streaming services if necessary.
• Thakur stated that content that is considered obscene will not be allowed, even in creative contexts.
• The government will not interfere until all other options have been exhausted, and complaints from viewers have not been resolved by producers and associations.

Anurag Thakur, a minister in India, has hinted that the government could step in to censor or at least ‘make changes’ to rules governing content on streaming services.

In a statement to the press, Thakur, who is the Union Minister of Information Broadcasting and Sports and Youth Affairs, mentioned that content that could be interpreted as obscene will not be tolerated, not even in creative contexts.

“If there is a need to make any changes in the rules regarding this, the ministry is willing to consider that. These platforms were given freedom for creativity, not obscenity. Whatever necessary action needs to be taken on this, the government will not back down from it,” he said.

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His statement further clarifies that the authorities will not step in until it is a last resort, where the producers and associations have not resolved complaints from viewers.

In conservative countries like India and even Nigeria, streaming platforms have become the way for producers with controversial content to reach their audience. These countries restrict such movies from showing in theatres as they fall under the broadcast ministry’s authority.

However, according to the IT Rules, 2021, India Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was giving the authority to also oversee and regulate policies for streaming platforms, social media and digital news outlets.

This development will no doubt affect viewership of platforms like Netflix and Prime Video in the country because they have several content showing in the location which could be construed as offensive.

Thakur had said that complaints started increasing recently and that the ministry could be forced to make a change if they are not resolved quickly. Recently, Amazon apologised because its series Tandav was criticised for the way it depicted Hindu gods and goddesses, with some saying it hurt their religious sentiments.

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