India’s MIB issues compliance advisory for OTTs and digital news publishers
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has released a nine-point advisory for digital platforms following observed instances of non-compliance with the IT Act.
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued an advisory on November 2, 2026, addressing OTT platforms, digital news publishers, and intermediaries. The ministry cited unspecified "instances of non-compliance" with the Information Technology Act (IT Act) as the motivation for the new guidance, which aims to enforce strict adherence to statutory content provisions.
The nine-point directive mandates that archival visuals be properly time-stamped and sourced to prevent misinformation. It discourages live coverage of anti-terror operations that could compromise tactical security, and mandates the use of authentic maps of India. Additionally, platforms are required to label AI-generated content and ensure that violent or disturbing visuals are appropriately masked.
The advisory places a mandatory requirement on publishers to protect the identities of victims of sexual offenses, citing Supreme Court rulings. It further suggests that organizations strengthen their internal editorial review mechanisms and conduct sensitivity training for staff regarding the IT Rules.
This advisory follows a series of government notices issued to digital intermediaries throughout 2025 and 2026 regarding similar compliance issues. The MIB has circulated the document to all self-regulatory bodies established under the 2021 IT Rules, urging them to ensure all content is presented in its proper context.