The Central Government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding OTT platforms. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) said that according to the new rules, the content of OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime is being monitored.
The ministry said that they had received many complaints from MPs, MLAs and intellectuals about the OTT platform.
The ministry through an affidavit informed the Apex Court that after considering those complaints, a new rule for monitoring the OTT platform’s content – Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 was introduced this year. The court was told that there is a provision in sections 67,67A and 67B of this Act that the government can prohibit objectionable content.
Every publisher shall establish a Grievance Redressal Mechanism and appoint a Grievance Officers in India for receiving and redressing grievance time bound manner. The details of the redressal mechanism will be displayed by the publisher in an appropriate place on its website or interface. Also, every publisher need to become a member of self-regulating body, the affidavit highlights.
Moreover, the affidavit stated, “In case of emergency for which no delay is acceptable, the Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may, after recording reasons in writing, issue directions as interim measure for blocking of content without giving the publisher as opportunity of hearing. Such matters will be referred by the Authorized Officer to the Inter Departmental Committee within forty-eight hours for its recommendations. On receipt of recommendations of the committee, the secretary of ministry of information and broadcasting shall pass the final order in this regard”.
The government’s reply came in a PIL filed by SC advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha who sought regulation of content in over-the-top (OTT) platforms.
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