After issuing a missive for social media intermediaries in India, the Centre has now asked digital media publishers, including OTT and digital news platforms, to furnish details within 15 days on their compliance with the new guidelines on digital media ethics that were issued in February.
The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 prescribed, for the first time, how digital news organisations, social media platforms and OTT streaming services will be regulated by the government. The IB ministry said that the new Code of Ethics and the IT rules will be applicable to online news and digital media entities, OTT platforms and digital media.
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It changes the way OTT platforms function in India with the inclusion of a Code of Ethics and a three-stair mechanism for OTT platforms. It also mandates a grievance redressal mechanism for OTT platforms and digital portals. OTT platforms will have to have a self-regulating body, headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge or an eminent person in this category.
The Code of Ethics will be applicable to online news and digital media entities, OTT platforms and digital media.
The new guidelines state that content involving nudity and morphed pictures of women will have to be removed in 24 hours of a complaint being raised. Further, publishers of news on digital media are required to observe Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act.
