Centre Prohibits All Pakistan-Origin Content on OTT Platforms
In the wake of the recent terror strike in Pahalgam and India’s retaliatory action under Operation Sindoor. The already tense relationship between India and Pakistan has worsened. Amid mounting public outrage, many citizens are calling for a complete halt to all forms of trade and diplomatic engagement with Pakistan.
Taking a firm stance on national security, the Indian government has taken a decisive step. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has released an advisory to digital content platforms, streaming services, and intermediaries, urging them to cease broadcasting any content immediately. — Including web series, movies, music, and podcasts — that originates from Pakistan. This directive is based on the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021.
The ministry’s statement emphasized that multiple terror attacks on Indian soil have been linked to individuals and organizations based in Pakistan. Growing public resentment has already sparked protests against Indian artists and filmmakers who collaborate with Pakistani-origin talent.
Centre Prohibits All Pakistan-Origin Content on OTT Platforms
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, certain films came under fire for featuring Pakistani actors. Over the years, both Bollywood and regional cinema have employed artists and technicians of Pakistani descent. The new advisory could compel platforms to remove such content or make edits to exclude these references.
This move by the Indian government is also expected to impact the streaming of future sporting events, particularly cricket matches involving India and Pakistan. Such decisions are likely to cause significant revenue losses for streaming companies. Notably, the BCCI has already rejected multiple invitations to play in Pakistan, including for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The last India-Pakistan match took place in Dubai in February.
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