The Centre is discussing a new law for streaming content, five years after a court stayed key regulations. This comes after the MIB received over 1,000 monthly public complaints citing obscenity and vulgarity on platforms like Netflix. The proposed law aims to overcome the legal challenges that previously blocked government oversight of digital content.
How We Got Here
In August 2021, the Bombay High Court stayed specific provisions of the IT Rules, 2021, which mandated a Code of Ethics and government oversight for streaming platforms. The court found these rules, which included age classification and grievance redressal, to be prima facie beyond the scope of the IT Act.
The Numbers
- MIB is considering three legislative routes: amending the 1952 Cinematograph Act, the 2000 IT Act, or introducing an entirely new law.
- Over the last six months, the MIB has received more than 1,000 monthly public complaints on streaming content, citing obscenity and vulgarity.
- Officials propose a three-tier regulatory structure: self-regulation, grievance redressal, and government oversight, mirroring the IT Rules, 2021 framework.
- The currently active IT Rules, 2021, mandate five age categories for content and parental locks for U/A 13+ ratings and above.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For Bangalore-based OTT product managers and content founders, this means increased compliance overheads and potential shifts in content strategy to align with new censorship guidelines.
The Take
This move is less about curtailing 'obscenity' and more about the government solidifying its control over digital media, pushing platforms towards a safer, more censored content slate. The real battle will be fought by content creators and independent platforms navigating stricter self-censorship, not just the big global players.
Source:
MediaNama ↗