India bans all Pakistani content, including web series, films, songs, podcasts

The Centre has directed all OTT platforms, media streaming services, and digital intermediaries to stop airing all web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other media content originating in Pakistan after Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Ministry of Information Technology noted that several terrorist attacks in India in the past have had cross-border links with state and non-state actors in Pakistan.

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Citing the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 men dead, the government stated that the advisory, issued under Part II of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, was being issued in the interest of national security.

Code of Ethics

The advisory, dated May 8, reminds publishers and intermediaries of their obligation, as laid down in the Code of Ethics under the IT Rules, to “ensure that content hosted or streamed does not threaten India’s sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order”.

“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,” the advisory reads.