New Delhi: Video-streaming platforms such as Alt Balaji, Netflix and Amazon Prime Thursday stressed on the need for insulation from FIRs and complaints in the backdrop of an elaborate grievance redressal mechanism they need to follow as part of the new rules laid down by the government, ThePrint has learnt.
They also sought to know if the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism will prevent FIRs from being filed against them in future.
Industry sources told ThePrint the platforms also wanted further time to classify their content into five age-based categories as mandated in the new rules, stating that it is a technologically challenging process as a wide collection of content has already been released.
These were the two major points put forth by the OTT platforms when they met Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar Thursday.
After the meeting, Javadekar in a tweet said the interaction was “fruitful” where the provisions of the OTT rules were explained to the platforms.
“All representatives have welcomed the new guidelines. The ministry and industry will partner together to make the OTT experience better for all audiences,” he tweeted.
Had a fruitful meeting with representatives from OTT industry and explained the provisions of the OTT rules. All representatives have welcomed the new guidelines. The Ministry and industry will partner together to make the OTT experience better for all audience.@MIB_India
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 4, 2021
While industry body, Internet and Mobile Association of India, had earlier urged the government to hold public consultation over the rules, a government statement issued Thursday said Javadekar told the industry representatives that the government has done several rounds of consultation with OTT players in the past and stressed the need for self-regulation.
He also stated he had received representations from cinema and TV industries saying that while there were regulations for them, none existed for the OTT industry.
Therefore, the decision was taken by the government to come out with “progressive institutional mechanism for OTT players and develop a level playing field with the idea of self-regulation”, said the statement.
He also clarified that in the self-regulatory body, no member will be appointed by the government.
ThePrint had earlier reported that video streaming platforms were worried the new rules for over-the-top (OTT) and digital media players do not explicitly earmark their representation in self-regulatory bodies, which will form the middle rung of the three-tier grievance redressal structure.
Also read: Few OTT platforms at times show pornographic content, need to strike a balance, says SC
‘Hope to have more fruitful engagement with govt’
Sources in the streaming platforms told ThePrint this was just the first meeting in which they sought to highlight the major concerns over the new rules.
“We gave our feedback to the ministry, which assured us that the concerns will be looked into. We hope to have more fruitful engagement with the government so that the industry and the government can come on the same page on the rules and work together,” an industry source said.
While video-streaming platforms are a new growing industry in India, their content has often invited complaints, FIRs and PILs.
The latest example is that of Tandav’s. The makers of the web series on Amazon Prime Video were booked by Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups, injuring or defiling a place of worship, public mischief, forgery, and charges under the Information Technology Act.
The makers deleted two scenes fearing arrest and Amazon Prime Video even offered an apology for hurting sentiments earlier this week.
The rules
Under the new rules, streaming platforms will have to set up a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism.
The first tier would comprise a grievance redressal officer to be appointed by each company, while a self-regulatory body to be set up by the industry will form the second tier.
The third tier will be that of government oversight — which may involve setting up an inter-ministerial committee to take a call on escalated grievances or a direct intervention by the I&B secretary in case of an emergency.
The rules also state that the OTT platforms will have to classify their content into five age-based categories — U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A (Adult).
They will also have to implement parental locks for content classified as U/A 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification mechanisms for content classified as “A”.
Also read: The meaning of govt’s new IT rules for OTT, digital media & the serious concerns they raise
Somehow, I don’t trust Javdekar to be sufficiently tough with these OTT platforms – he seems to be in their pocket. There is an urgent need to crack down on the OTT platforms, social media and digital media who are promoting sedition and breaking up India under the guise of free speech and dissent. A stern message needs to be sent to these companies that collaborating with anti-India forces – either inside or outside India – and creating content that promotes sedition or deliberately designed to deepen the rift between social groups will send them packing into the jail for a life time. I don’t think Javdekar is the man for this job – he seems to crave adulation from the Lutyens and the foreign media instead of doing his job of serving the interests of India.