In a recent gazette notification, President Draupadi Murmu has included “films and Audio-Visual programmes and content made available by online content providers/publishers” under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the Second Schedule of the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.
This decision grants the I&B Ministry the power to regulate and oversee content distribution in the digital realm, which is a key step towards governing online content providers and ensuring responsible audio-visual content dissemination. With this move, the Indian government aims to address the evolving landscape of digital media and bring it under a structured regulatory framework.
Now, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting holds the authority to supervise and manage online gaming and advertising rules. This decision was initially implemented back in 2018 under the leadership of the Minister of I&B, Smriti Irani.
“As a result, online gaming content and online advertising will be covered. This includes all forms of online advertising. We can now change the Information Technology rules.” an official said.
In April, the government introduced measures to regulate online gaming, specifically focusing on “online real money games” that involve financial risks for users. The aim was to address addiction and fraudulent activities prevalent in the online gaming sector.
At the same time, the Ministry of I&B issued an advisory warning media entities, platforms, and online intermediaries against promoting betting and gambling platforms through advertisements. The ministry expressed strong disapproval of mainstream English and Hindi newspapers carrying such ads, emphasizing the importance of tighter supervision in this area.
With this move, the government can now effectively regulate online media gaming content and advertisements, ensuring a safer and more responsible gaming environment for users. The 2021 modification to the IT Rules
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