Do microdramas follow same OTT content rules?!

Length doesn’t dilute responsibility or impact

Key rules OTT and microdrama must follow

Are bot-only grievance systems even compliant?

Why are microdrama apps bypassing key rules?

Does compliance weaken microdrama business?

Is a simple 18+ checkbox enough for compliance

Are kids sections mandatory or just optional?

What defines obscenity on microdrama platform?

Conclusion

Credits

From no age gating on sexual content to the absence of statutory warnings around smoking on screen, Microdrama apps are violating critical rules associated with publishing curated digital content. In this episode, host Dia Rekhi speaks with Mallika Noorani of Parinam Law Associates on how platforms dismissed as “just two-minute videos” are in fact operating outside the law, despite clearly falling under India’s Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code. The discussion lays bare systemic failures: missing content ratings, weak or misleading age gates, absent parental controls, poor accessibility features, and routine neglect of mandatory health disclaimers. Noorani explains why neither format nor duration offers legal cover, how microdrama platforms qualify as publishers of online curated content, and what due diligence truly requires. The episode also probes broken grievance redress systems and opaque subscription practices that leave users exposed, with little protection or recourse.

You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & X

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like ET in the Valley:  Grant Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Gamma, ET in the Valley: Databricks Co-founder Patrick Wendell, ET in the Valley: Replit Founder and CEO Amjad Masad, ET in the Valley: ElevenLabs Co-Founder Mati Staniszewski and much more.

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

From no age gating on sexual content to the absence of statutory warnings around smoking on screen, Microdrama apps are violating critical rules associated with publishing curated digital content. In this episode, host Dia Rekhi speaks with Mallika Noorani of Parinam Law Associates on how platforms dismissed as &ldquo;just two-minute videos&rdquo; are in fact operating outside the law, despite clearly falling under India&rsquo;s Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code. The discussion lays bare systemic failures: missing content ratings, weak or misleading age gates, absent parental controls, poor accessibility features, and routine neglect of mandatory health disclaimers. Noorani explains why neither format nor duration offers legal cover, how microdrama platforms qualify as publishers of online curated content, and what due diligence truly requires. The episode also probes broken grievance redress systems and opaque subscription practices that leave users exposed, with little protection or recourse. You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dia-rekhi-702438104/?originalSubdomain=in">Linkedin</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/diarekhiET">X </a>Check out other interesting episodes from the host like <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000738448473">ET in the Valley:&nbsp; Grant Lee, Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Gamma</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000737335976">ET in the Valley: Databricks Co-founder Patrick Wendell</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000736346116">ET in the Valley: Replit Founder and CEO Amjad Masad</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000735309153">ET in the Valley: ElevenLabs Co-Founder Mati Staniszewski</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>.
Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>.

To make sense of the week’s hottest stories in business, economy, politics and markets, journalists from the Economic Times chat with reporters and industry leaders in this thrice-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) podcast.

The Morning Brief

From Age Gating to Content Rating, Microdrama Apps are Flouting Rules

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