Modi Govt to soon start regulating streaming of content on OTT platforms

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has suggested that it will soon start meeting representatives from OTT platforms, members of civil society, technical community, media, ISPs and legal experts regarding the regulation of content on streaming websites such as Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime etc.

As of now, these streaming platforms don’t require a go-ahead from the Central Board of Film Certification (CFBC); but that might change since Prakash Javadekar is going to speak to the stakeholders of many websites.

According to Times of India, this is being done due to a plethora of complaints received by the Ministry. Most of these report “anti-Hindu” content. The negative feedback was received from the right-wing organisations post the release of Leila, a Netflix series directed by Deepa Mehta.

This series showed a woman’s struggle to find her child and to be free. There are claims that the web series maligned “Hindu symbols” “showcasing suspicion and distrust towards Hindus”.

Members of RSS-led Sanskar Bharti earlier this year held a discussion on ‘anti-Hindu’ content on the web and many members of the RSS alleged that “hinduphobic” sentiments were on the rise.
“It represents ancient Hindu concepts such as Aryavarta and Shuddhikaran as oppressive and dictatorial, suppressing women and restricting their reproductive rights. Nowhere in Hindu scriptures will you find such an occurrence, which is why we raised concerns about the series being defamatory and insulting,” a member of the sangh parivar said to The Times Of India.

After at least 7 PILs in the previous year alone, the ministry has decided to regulate this. Apart from Leila, shows such as Kafir, Hasan Minhaj: Patriot Act and The Final Call have also been flagged. The model of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), an independent self-regulatory body to address TV complaints is what we are looking forward to discuss with stakeholders,” an official said.

The Times of India quoted Arun Anand, an author who has extensively written on RSS as saying, what was demanded of the law right now is an “indicative law” that would increase accountability in the online space, particularly “to address the overwhelming portrayal of violence and sex on online platforms.”