Government to monitor OTT platform content
Soon, your experience will not be the same as before on OTT (Over the Top) streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken over monitoring the digital audio visual content and web shows being shown on the OTT platform. Along with this, news and current affairs of online platforms will also be under the government’s purview. The government has notified it by releasing a gazette on Wednesday.
The meaning of this change for the common people is that now the sensor will be applied on OTT platforms like Netflix. In September this year, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) refused to support the Self Regulation Code issued by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). Around 15 video streaming platforms are currently operating in the country.
These OTT platforms signed a self-regulation code under the IAMAI earlier this month. Instead of censorship or government intervention, OTT companies had created a framework at the behest of the government so that only the right content could reach the audience. In this code, there was also a mechanism to deal with the grievances of the audience. For this, it was said to create a consumer complaint department or advisory panel. Members of this panel may include independent people working for children’s rights, gender equality.
The OTT platforms it will include include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney + Hotstar, ALT Balaji, ZEE5, Arre, Discovery +, Eros Now, Flickstree, Hoichoi, Hungama, MX Player, Shemaroo, VOOT, Jio Cinema, Sony Liv and Lionsgate play.
The ministry had said, “There is no classification of the processed content in the self-regulatory mechanism that the industry has created.” The ministry said that the IAMAI had earlier recommended a two-layer structure, but the ministry did not like it. After this, today the government has released gazette and taken them under its purview.
