Question

Given below are two statements :
Statement I :  According to IT rules 2021 social media platforms with minimum 50 lakh registered users are classified as significant social media intermediaries. 
Statement II : OTT platforms cannot upload content which is adult and explicit in nature. 
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
• C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
• D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question involves evaluating two statements related to Indian IT regulations and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. Let us analyze each statement one by one to reach the correct conclusion:

1. Statement I: According to IT rules 2021, social media platforms with minimum 50 lakh registered users are classified as significant social media intermediaries.
   • This statement is correct. Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Indian government has categorized social media platforms with over 5 million (50 lakh) users as "significant social media intermediaries." These platforms have additional compliance requirements compared to smaller platforms.
2. Statement II: OTT platforms cannot upload content which is adult and explicit in nature.
   • This statement is incorrect. While OTT platforms are expected to follow certain guidelines and abide by the law of the land, including not promoting obscene or offensive content under regulations like the IT Rules, 2021, there is no blanket ban on content that is adult and explicit. OTT platforms often have adult content but must ensure it is appropriately tagged and restricted for viewers above a certain age, generally following self-regulation codes.

Based on the analysis above, we conclude:

• Statement I is correct.
• Statement II is incorrect.

Thus, the most appropriate answer is: Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.