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Tag: OTT content regulation

  • OTT regulation: SC stays all petitions in high courts

    OTT regulation: SC stays all petitions in high courts

    KOLKATA: The Supreme Court has stayed all proceedings dealing with petitions filed on the matter of content regulation on OTT platforms. The court will hear the matter in two weeks after Holi. 

    A bench headed by justice DY Chandrachud passed the order while hearing a plea by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, appearing for Justice for Rights Foundation, that has sought the establishment of an autonomous body for monitoring of content on online video streaming services.

    Earlier, the central government filed a petition seeking transfer of OTT related petitions pending before various high courts to the Supreme Court. The apex court had issued a notice in this regard. However, the Punjab and Haryana high court continued hearing the case on merits, solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted.

    Now, the court has clearly mentioned that all the proceedings of such petitions in lower courts across India would be stayed for now.

    Meanwhile, the government has informed apex court in an affidavit that the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were framed upon receiving several complaints from the public as well as lawmakers regarding content streaming OTT platforms.

    The affidavit also mentioned that digital or online media, films and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers, news and current affairs content on online platforms have been brought under the purview of the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) last year.

  • NCPCR asks Netflix to stop streaming Bombay Begums for inappropriate depiction of children

    NCPCR asks Netflix to stop streaming Bombay Begums for inappropriate depiction of children

    KOLKATA: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to OTT platform Netflix to stop streaming Bombay Begums. It has also asked the streamer to furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which it will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal action.

    According to the notice, the commission has received complaints from two Twitter handles regarding the Netflix original. The objections have been raised in regards to a scene where a 13-year-old girl is seen snorting cocaine at a party, as well as another plot point dealing with school girls sending nude selfies to members of the opposite sex.

    NCPCR stated that the series with this type of content will pollute young minds and may result in abuse and exploitation of children at the hands of perpetrators and offenders.

    The commission further mentioned that it does not allow representing, portraying, glorifying children in India in such manner on any platform including streaming services.

    "Netflix should take extra precaution while streaming any content in respect of the children or for the children and shall also refrain themselves from getting into such things," the commission said in the notice.

    Bombay Begums, written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, started streaming on 8 March which revolves around five women whose lives are interconnected.

    Lately, the content on OTT platforms have come under severe scrutiny. Netflix’s arch rival Amazon Prime Video issued an apology for its series Tandav in the wake of widespread furore over the depiction of Hindu deities. The government has also notified new rules to better monitor and regulate the content on new age entertainment platforms consisting of a three-tier redressal mechanism. Although the Centre has emphasised it is a “soft-touch regulation”, many experts have criticized the guidelines, saying they give the government overriding power to step in.