Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to inaugurate the AI Impact Expo 2026 event at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on February 16, 2026. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Jitin Prasada are also present. Photo: DPR PMO/ANI
Global content creation platforms must be aware of the cultural context of the countries they operate in and work within their constitutional and legal frameworks, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday (16 Feb 2026).
He spoke with Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, at the official satellite event of the AI Impact Summit 2026, titled “Rewarding our creative future in the age of AI – Empowering India through innovation, trust and talent”.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting said that global OTT and digital content platforms must operate in accordance with the laws of the host country, not in accordance with the laws of their parent country.
“There are no physical boundaries in the digital world. In this scenario, it is very easy for OTT platforms to forget the cultural context, which is very important. What is normal in one society may not be normal in another,” Mr Vaishnaw told Mr Rivkin.
The minister said global platforms such as the Motion Picture Association and Netflix must be aware of the “cultural context of the country in which they operate”.
“Make in India”
Mr. Vaishnaw said the government’s retraining, upskilling and new skill initiatives will create more opportunities for the global media industry to establish itself in India.
“Very soon we will launch the ‘Create in India’ mission. Like the semiconductor mission, it will also be very industry, employment and future oriented,” he said.
The minister said the initiative will ensure India becomes “the world’s most preferred platform for creation” and provide “future-ready talent training that will sustain the growth we need to have for the next 25 years”.
Mr Vaishnaw, also India’s IT minister, highlighted the “natural inclination” of the country’s large population towards digital technologies. He said people in India are “digital natives” and naturally adapt to new technologies.
Talking about the upcoming AI Summit in New Delhi, he said global leadership is meeting in India to discuss how to harness the benefits of digital innovation while mitigating its drawbacks.
Published – 16 Feb 2026 21:58 IST