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Government to monitor OTT content
Why is it in news?
- The government, for the first time, has brought in detailed guidelines for digital content on both digital media and Over The Top (OTT) platforms.
Details:
- The guidelines were brought under the ambit of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
- Government laid down a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism.
- However, government will have overriding powers, as government has equipped itself with “emergency” powers to block public access of any information.
- Such orders can be released “without giving an opportunity of hearing” to the publishing platform.
Three-tier mechanism:
- The first level of the grievance redressal system will be at the level of each OTT provider. Each complaint will have to be addressed within 15 days.
- If the complaint is not satisfactorily addressed, then the complainant can scale it up to a self-regulatory body collectively established by the OTTs.
- This body will be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, a High Court, or an independent eminent person from the field of media, broadcasting, entertainment, child rights, human rights or other relevant fields.
- This self-regulatory body also has “censuring” powers in case of any incriminating content.
- At the third tier, the government has equipped itself with overriding powers in the form of “oversight mechanism”.
- An inter-ministerial committee will perform this function and it will largely have the same powers as the collective self-regulatory body of the OTTs.
Source: The Hindu