The Centre on Wednesday issued an order bringing online films and audio-visual programmes, and online news and current affairs content under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. With this, online streaming portals like Netflix, Hotstar and Amazon Prime will now be subject to the same censorship rules as that of television.
In a gazette notification dated November 9, the government amended the Allocation of Business Rules and said that "films and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers" and "news and current affairs content on online platforms” will be brought under the I&B Ministry. The notification, signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, was issued on Monday.
According to various media reports citing ministry officials, the move was taken to ensure a level playing field for all media, and bring an "enabling regulatory environment so that all digital players adhere to the laws of the land."
Online streaming platforms and content providers were outside the ambit of the ministry so far. This meant that the rules framed by the Censor Board do not apply to them as strictly as to their general entertainment television counterparts.
Online portals are unregulated in India. The Press Council of India takes care of the print media, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) monitors news channels, the Advertising Standards Council of India is for advertising while the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) takes care of films.
Last month, the Supreme Court had sought the Centre's response on a PIL for regulating OTT platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime by an autonomous body.
The ministry had earlier told the top court in a separate case that there is a need to regulate digital media and that the court may first appoint a committee of persons as amicus before laying down guidelines with respect to the regulation of hate speech in the media.
Last year, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that the government will not take any step that may curb media freedom, adding there should be some kind of regulation on over-the-top platforms (OTT), as there is for the print and electronic media as well as films.
