With the expansion of Internet-based services in India, the Modi govt often found itself at loggerheads with Social media platforms and OTT Platforms. There have been cases filed by right wing groups against web series like Netflix’s Leila and Amazon Prime’s Tandav citing that it hurt Hindu sentiments. On the other hand, the latest incidents of face-off between Indian govt and Twitter, the social media platform faced a rebuke. Even in the past, the govt has cited the need to introduce regulations for these platforms. Today, the govt made public how it plans to tighten the rope around Social media and OTT platforms. There will be greater oversight over social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter while digital media and streaming platforms have been brought into a stricter regulatory net.
India at present does not have any other regulation than IT Act, 2000, the amendments to it. Last time such regulations were introduced in 2011 known as information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules. This is after almost a decade that regulations have been brought for Digital and streaming services.
Today, almost everyone has access to Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Hotstar Plus, Voot, Zee5, SonyLive, etc. According to a survey, 35% of growth is seen year-on-year in the number of India’s OTT video viewers. I am sure many of you, our viewers too must be using the streaming platforms. So this video is very important for you to understand what is going to change with these rules.
The Centre has finalized new rules for social and digital media and OTT platforms. The changes were announced by Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prakash Javadekar in a press conference on Thursday. These include age-wise classification of content, self-regulation, a Code of Ethics and a three-level grievance redressal mechanism. IT minister Ravi shankar Prasad said that the govt has not framed any new law. These rules have been framed under the existing IT Act. While the govt stresses that the focus of these rules is self-regulation, critics view it as Govt’s attempt to have larger control over these digital platforms.
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