Govt To Impose Self-Regulation Law For OTT Platforms, News Websites!

New Delhi: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has decided to bring in an overarching statute for self-regulation in digital media including over-the-top (OTT) platforms and news websites, according to a media report.

The move is aimed to address online issues of sensitive video content and fake news, an unnamed ministry official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The issue of self-regulation in digital media was taken up at the highest levels this month so as to bring in a level-playing field in the media, the official said.

“Like the print media has the Press Council of India, films have the Central Board of Film Certification and TV channels are broadly regulated under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, the digital media which has been unregulated till now, will soon have an overarching regulation for redressal of complaints on content,” he said.

There are at least 40 OTT platforms including multinationals like Netflix, Amazon Prime and HotStar and hundreds of news content websites. The market size of OTT platforms in India is close to Rs 1,000 crore with around 20 crore users.

Notably, the I&B Ministry has been receiving complaints over the adult content and language shown in OTT platforms that sometimes border on soft porn.

There have also been complaints against single-shop digital news websites for creating discontent in society by indulging in fake news without any redressal or retraction.

Also Read: All Online News Portals Such As Netflix, Amazon Prime Video Brought Under Govt Regulation