Until now, there was no law or autonomous body that regulates digital content.
New Delhi:
The government has issued an order that online news portals and content providers like Netflix report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The notice, signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, was issued Monday.
Currently, there is no law or an autonomous body that regulates digital content.
The Press Council of India deals with print media, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) oversees news channels, the Advertising Standards Council of India deals with advertising while the Central Certification Board of Movies (CBFC) deals with movies.
Last month, the Supreme Court requested the center’s response to a request for regulation of OTT platforms by an autonomous body. The high court issued notifications to the center, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Internet and Mobile Association of India.
OTT platforms include news portals and also streaming services such as Hotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, which can be accessed via the Internet or on an operator’s network.
OTT / Streaming and different digital media platforms have surely given an outlet for filmmakers and artists to publish their content without worrying about obtaining authorization certificates for their films and series from the censorship board, according to the petition.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had previously told the higher court in a separate case that there is a need to regulate digital media and that the court may first appoint a committee of individuals as amicus before setting guidelines regarding the regulation of speech by hate in the media.
Last year, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, said that the government will not take any action that could curb media freedom, adding that there should be some kind of regulation on over-the-top platforms (OTT ), as with printing. and electronic media and films.
.
