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Tag: Online Content regulation

  • Online content and news finally comes under MIB’s jurisdiction

    Online content and news finally comes under MIB’s jurisdiction

    KOLKATA: The meteoric rise of digital media has put high focus on how online content will be regulated. Until now there were no particular guidelines to regulate the exhibition of online content, even though talks have been going on for a long time. Now, the government has brought online news platforms and content providers under the ambit of the ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB).

    The latest gazette notification issued by the Prakash Javadekar-headed ministry stated that films and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers, as well as news and current affairs content on online platforms will come under MIB’s purview.

    Earlier this year, MIB secretary Amit Khare said at FICCI e-Frames that the ministry is proposing to take over jurisdiction on online content regulation from the ministry of electronics & information technology.

    “OTT being a digital platform will fall under the purview of the ministry of IT. We are proposing a decision that content should fall under purview of I&B. Convergence of ministries is extremely necessary,” Khare had remarked.

    Amid intense pressure from the government, Internet and Mobile Association of India( IAMAI) also tried to push a self-regulatory model for online content curators. About 15 OTT players operating in the country came together to sign a code, but this was later disapproved by MIB. The ministry asked IAMAI to look at other models.

  • Leading OTT players agree to universal self-regulation code

    Leading OTT players agree to universal self-regulation code

    KOLKATA: The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has unveiled the Universal Self-Regulation Code for OCCPs (“Code”). The code has been adopted by 15 leading Online Curated Content Providers in India. The present set of signatories include Zee5, Viacom 18, Disney+Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, MX Player, Jio Cinema, Eros Now, Alt Balaji, Arre, HoiChoi, Hungama, Shemaroo, Discovery Plus, Flickstree.

    The goal of this industry-wide effort is to empower consumers with information and tools to assist them in making informed choice with regard to viewing decisions for them and their families, while at the same time, nurturing creativity and providing creators the freedom to tell the finest stories. By aiming to do what is best for both consumers and creators as guiding principles, the Code intends for India to be one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing entertainment industries in the world.

    To give consumers more choice and control, the Universal Self-Regulation Code includes a framework for age classification and content descriptions for titles as well as access control tools. The code also introduces a clear, transparent and structured grievance redressal and escalation mechanism for reporting non-compliance with the prescribed guidelines. As a part of this mechanism, each OCCP will set-up a consumer complaint department and/or an internal committee as well as advisory panel which will deal with complaints, appeals and escalations. The advisory panel will constitute a minimum of three members, including an independent external advisor and two senior executives of the respective OCCP. 

    IAMAI digital entertainment committee chairman Tarun Katial said, “The Universal Self-Regulation Code for OCCPs is built around a shared belief that consumer empowerment and creative excellence are key to the long-term success of the Indian entertainment industry. With the framework for age classification, content descriptions and parental controls in combination with a grievance redressal system, we’ve made it easier for consumers to make the right viewing decisions for themselves and their families.” 

    “The combination of empowering consumers and enabling creative excellence will help Online Curated Content Providers be at the forefront of taking the best stories from India to the world and bringing the finest stories from around the world to Indian consumers. Most of the major streaming services have adopted the Code and we look forward to others joining.” he added.

    The code is effective from 15 August and allows OCCPs to comply with all the guidelines in a timebound manner. Each signatory to the code has agreed to appoint an external advisor as part of the grievance redressal mechanism within 60 days from today.

  • Indian viewers want government regulation for OTT platforms

    Indian viewers want government regulation for OTT platforms

    MUMBAI: Online content regulation has stirred a lot of controversies recently in the Indian over-the-top (OTT) ecosystem. While many experts and platforms are not in favour of censorship, a survey revealed that 57 per cent of Indians want government regulation for OTT platforms.

    “Nine in ten (91 per cent) said content-either on TV, films or online, should be regulated by the government, either always (as said by 40 per cent) or sometime (51 per cent). Men are more likely than women to say they want content to be regulated always (45 per cent versus 34 per cent) while women are more likely to want censorship sometime (56 per cent 46 per cent),” Business Insider quoted a survey from YouGov.

    According to the survey, more than 59 per cent of Indians think that OTT platforms in the country have huge offensive content which is unsuitable for public viewing while 47 per cent find some of the content uncomfortable to watch around family. But 30 per cent of the respondents think content quality will be compromised due to censorship.

    YouGov Omnibus conducted the survey among 1005 respondents in India between 22-28 October using YouGov’s panel of over 6mn people worldwide.

    Earlier, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) secretary Amit Khare said there is a need to rethink regulating over-the-top (OTT) platforms because some sections of the society are voicing concerns on its content. 

  • No current plans to impose regulation on OTT sector: MIB secretary

    No current plans to impose regulation on OTT sector: MIB secretary

    MUMBAI: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) secretary Amit Khare said there is a need to rethink regulating over-the-top (OTT) platforms because some sections of the society are voicing concerns on its content. However, Khare also added that the ministry currently does not have any plan to impose any regulation.

    According to a Medianama report, the MIB secretary spoke at a seminar on film certification and regulation of online content, held in Mumbai on 10 October. He noted that while in all commonwealth countries, there are bodies to regulate content in films, newspapers and TV, there is no such provision for regulating content on OTT.

    “They [OTT platforms] do fall under the IT Act, but have no governance or self-regulation. This happens nowhere in the world,” Minister of Information and Broadcast Prakash Javadekar said via a video conference at the seminar. He mentioned that content creators of OTT platforms make all kinds of content including bad and obscene but there is no censor board.

    Notably, according to an India Today report, the Ministry of Technology said there is no monitoring of OTT content right now in response to an RTI.

    "So far as this ministry is concerned, the content on online platforms is not being regulated at present. However your application is being transferred under Section 6 (3) of the Act to CPIO, Ministry of Electronics and IT, New Delhi to provide information pertaining to them," MIB said as per the report.