Video Streaming Platforms Should Be Held Responsible For Content: Centre

"Limits of tolerance and standards of tolerance should not be judged on the creating freedom or abuse of a particular producer of an OTT platform," the Union Minister said

Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said video streaming services have to be "responsible and accountable" for their shows and movies, defending rules introduced last month that regulate such content. India tightened its grip on social media firms such as Facebook and Twitter. The rules, called the "Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code", also require firms such as Netflix and Amazon's Prime Video to classify content into categories based on viewers' age. The rules come at a time digital media or over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix face growing complaints in the country about obscene content or hurting religious sentiments. OTT delivers content to viewers directly by the internet. Among the highest-profile cases, police last month questioned a top Amazon Prime Video executive for hours over a show that allegedly hurt religious beliefs. Amazon was also forced to issue an apology.