Question : Regulation for OTT Platforms

(a) whether the Government has decided to regulate Over the Top (OTT), other online platforms including online news portals and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the regulatory architecture that the Government intends to put in place to administer, monitor and police these entities;
(c) whether social media platforms have not been included within the ambit of the November 9th 2020 notification with regard to regulation of digital platforms and if so, the reasons therefore; and
(d) whether the Government has any plans to convert the Press Council of India into a Media Council covering print, broadcast, digital and all other such content mediums, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTGERPRISES {SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR}

(a) To (c) The Government has received several representations regarding content of programmes on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms. The Government also has held several consultations with the OTT players, including with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) impressing upon them the need for having an appropriate self-regulatory mechanism for content over OTT platforms.

The Central Government has vide notification dated 9.11.2020 amended the Allocation of Business Rules and the subject relating to content of news and current affairs and audio-visual content on online platforms has been brought in the mandate of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

(d) Well defined legislations and institutional mechanisms (including self-regulatory mechanisms) exist in respect of each media platform viz. Press Council Act, 1978 for print media, the Cable Television Network (Regulation Act, 1995 for electronic media and Information Technology Act, 2000 for digital media. Each media platform is unique in its nature and has its own peculiarities.
.........