Netflix, Amazon Prime, other OTT platforms now under govt. regulation
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In a transfer that can have a far-reaching influence, the Union authorities has introduced Over The Top (OTT) platforms, or video streaming service suppliers similar to Netflix, Amazon Prime and others, under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Currently, there isn’t a legislation or autonomous physique governing digital content material. In a gazette notification issued on Wednesday and signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, on-line movies, digital information and present affairs content material now come under the purview of the I&B Ministry headed by Prakash Javadekar.
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This will give the federal government management over OTT platforms, which have been unregulated until now. From time to time, the federal government had indicated the need to watch these platforms. In October 2019, the federal government had indicated that it’s going to subject “negative” record of don’ts for the video streaming providers like Netflix and Hotstar. It additionally wished the platforms to give you a self-regulatory physique on the strains of the News Broadcasters Standard Authority.
Anticipating the federal government’s intervention, in January 2019, eight video streaming providers had signed a self-regulatory code that laid down a set of guiding rules for content material on these platforms.
The code adopted by the OTTs prohibited 5 sorts of content material. This consists of content material that intentionally and maliciously disrespects the nationwide emblem or nationwide flag, any visible or story line that promotes little one pornography, any content material that “maliciously” intends to outrage spiritual sentiments, content material that “deliberately and maliciously” promotes or encourages terrorism and, lastly, any content material that has been banned for exhibition or distribution by legislation or courtroom.
The authorities had refused to help this code.
At current, the Press Council of India regulates the print media, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) represents the information channels, the Advertising Standards Council of India regulates promoting, whereas the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) screens movies.
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