Content complications..! SC notifies Centre to regulate over the top media services for unethical content

New Delhi, May 10: Pointing over-the-top media services, for streaming uncertified, sexually explicit and vulgar content, the Supreme Court on Friday has issued a notice to Centre asking to regulate the content featured on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar.

 

 

Dismissed by the Delhi High Court earlier, the petition now has been filed by an NGO seeking the government's response on the plea and also alleged that the online media streaming platforms show loud and harsh content.

 

Alleging the content of several shows on the online platform violated provisions of the Indian Penal code and the Information Technology Act, the plea, filed by Justice for Rights, has further assessed the reason for telecasting shows religiously forbidden and morally unethical, it being lack of regulation for the web-exclusive content by Central Government.

 

It is in the month of January this year that the leading Online Curated Content Providers including Netflix, Hotstar, Voot, Arre, Sonyliv and ALTBalaji came together with a self-regulatory code to regulate video streaming content.

 

OCCPs voluntarily had signed a self-regulatory Code of Best Practices under the aegis of Inter and Mobile Association of India.