The Government of India has issued an advisory to OTT platforms, media streaming services, and intermediaries, instructing them to remove all content originating from Pakistan with immediate effect.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cited concerns over national security and public order, aligning its directive with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
According to the advisory, digital content that may threaten India’s sovereignty, security, or friendly relations with foreign nations should be handled with utmost caution. The order comes amid heightened tensions and recent cross-border terrorist incidents, including the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in multiple casualties.
The ban applies to all forms of Pakistani-origin content, including movies, web series, songs, and podcasts, whether distributed freely or through subscription-based models. OTT platforms are expected to comply immediately, ensuring their content aligns with India’s regulatory framework.
The move has sparked debates within the entertainment industry, with stakeholders assessing its impact on digital streaming trends. Further developments are expected as platforms adjust to the latest government directive.
Advisory:
- Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as IT Rules, 2021), inter alia, provides for a Code of Ethics for publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms).
- The Code of Ethics under the Rules provides that: ‘a publisher shall take into consideration the following factors, when deciding to feature or transmit or publish or exhibit any content, after duly considering the implications of any content as falling under the following categories, and shall exercise due caution and discretion in relation to the same, namely, i. content which affects the sovereignty and integrity of India; ii. content which threatens, endangers or jeopardises the security of the State; iii. content which is detrimental to India’s friendly relations with foreign countries; iv. content which is likely to incite violence or disturb the maintenance of public order.’
- Further, rule 3(l)(b) of Part-II of the IT Rules, 2021 provides that intermediaries shall make reasonable efforts by itself, and to cause the users of its computer resource to not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share any information that inter-alia ‘threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order’.
- Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based State and non-state actors. Recently, on 22.04.2025, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others.
- In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription-based model or otherwise, having their origins in Pakistan with immediate effect.
- These issues are with the approval of the competent authority in the Ministry.
