Top Court issues notice to Centre in plea to regulate the content of OTT platforms.

By Ishank Katyal

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India issued a notice to the Central Government on Thursday to regulate the adult content in OTT and digital media platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Zee 5, Alt Balaji, etc.

“We don’t know if it is possible, but we are issuing notice,” said an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde.

The plea was filed by advocates Shashank Shekhar Jha and Apurva Arhatia which claims that there is no law or autonomous body which can monitor or manage the content in these digital streaming platforms which is directly reached to the public without any screening or censorship.

There should be an agency or board which should be headed by an IAS officer of secretary level and must have members from required fields.

“Since cinema halls are unlikely to open anytime soon in the country, OTT platforms have given an open area to the filmmakers and artists to release their content directly to the audience without any fear of censorship or cuts in their film or serials. Hardly any OTT platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Alt Balaji, Zee 5, and Hotstar has signed the self- regulation provided by the ministry of broadcasting since February.” They added to the plea.

Although cinema halls will begin to resume their services from October 16, 2020.

It was also written in the plea that countries including UK, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries have started regulating the content available on OTT platforms in their countries.