I&B Ministry asks OTTs, media-streaming platforms, intermediaries to take down all Pakistan-origin content

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday (May 8, 2025) issued an advisory asking over-the-top (OTT) and media-streaming platforms, as well as intermediary services operating in India to discontinue web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other media content of Pakistani origin with immediate effect.

“Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based state and non-state actors. Recently, on April 22, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others,” it said.

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“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 its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect,” said the advisory.

The Ministry quoted Part-III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which provides for a Code of Ethics for publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms).

Under the Code, a publisher — while deciding to transmit/exhibit any content — has to take into consideration whether it affects the sovereignty and integrity of India; threatens, endangers, or jeopardises the country’s security; is detrimental to India’s friendly relations with foreign countries; or is likely to incite violence or disturb the maintenance of public order.

“Further, rule 3(1)(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.’,” the advisory pointed out.

“We have received the request and are working to comply in accordance with the law,” a Spotify spokesperson told The Hindu.

Representatives for Google and Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ZEE5, which had put out a handful of Pakistani shows in recent years, does not appear to have them on its catalogue anymore. Many official YouTube channels of Pakistani broadcasters that were streaming full episodes of their TV series have been blocked by previous government orders.

(Inputs from Aroon Deep)