Legal Consequences Of Violent And Crime- Glorifying Content On OTT Platforms In India: A Study With Special Reference To Children And Minors
- IJLLR Journal
- Oct 23, 2025
- 2 min read
Banani Adhikari, Research Scholar. USLR, USTM, Meghalaya.
ABSTRACT
The rise of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms in India has fundamentally transformed media consumption, particularly among children and young audiences. While these platforms have democratized access to global entertainment, they have also become channels for the circulation of violent and crime-glorifying content. Such portrayals often normalize aggression, criminal behaviour, and deviant lifestyles, creating potential risks for impressionable viewers. For minors, who lack the cognitive maturity to differentiate between dramatized fiction and reality, this content can significantly influence behaviour, values, and emotional development.
This paper explores the legal consequences of violent and crime- related content on OTT platforms in India, with a specific focus on its impact on children and minors. It begins by examining the nature of harmful content available on digital streaming services, including the prevalence of graphic violence, glamorization of organized crime, and depiction of anti-social characters as role models. It then discusses the psychological and sociological implications of such exposure on young audiences.
From a legal standpoint, the study analyses statutory provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952, among others. Judicial responses, particularly from the Supreme Court and High Courts, are explored to highlight how the judiciary has grappled with regulating digital content.
The paper argues that while existing frameworks attempt to address harmful OTT content, enforcement challenges, lack of uniformity, and limited awareness among parents and guardians restrict their effectiveness. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for a robust regulatory mechanism, stronger parental controls, digital literacy initiatives, and accountability of OTT platforms to safeguard children from harmful influences while balancing freedom of expression.
Keywords: OTT Platforms, Harmful Content, Crime Glorification, Children and Minors, Legal Consequences
