Question : Regulatory Mechanism for Online Video

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology

(a) whether the Government has formulated any mechanism to regulate online video streaming services and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any consultation with online video streaming service providers such as Netflix, hotstar, etc. regarding the content regulation and if so, the details and the outcomes thereof; and
(c) whether the Government is planning to bring a self regulatory mechanism rather than regulations that are enforceable by the Government and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

(a): Government is committed to freedom of speech and expression and privacy of its citizens as enshrined in the constitution of India. The online video streaming services providing curated content are expected to follow various content related domestic laws as applicable to them. In addition, the online video streaming services for third part content are intermediaries as defined in the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. They are required to follow certain due diligence as prescribed in the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011. The intermediaries are required to publish privacy policy, Rules and regulations and terms and conditions. They are also expected to remove any unlawful content relatable to Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India as and when brought to their knowledge either through a court order or through a notice by appropriate government or its agency.

(b): Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has not conducted any formal consultation with online video streaming service providers such as Netflix, Hotstar etc. regarding the content regulation

(c): There is no such proposal with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

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