Instead of soft-touch monitoring, the government has opted for predatory new rules
The new rules introduced by the Centre last week to regulate all types of digital platforms, with the idea of redressing user grievances and ensuring compliance with the law, are deeply unsettling as they will end up giving the government a good deal of leverage over online news publishers and intermediaries. This holds troubling implications for freedom of expression and right to information. Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, while launching The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, presented it as a “soft-touch oversight mechanism”. A government press note termed it “progressive” and “liberal”. It also claimed the rules seek to “address people’s varied concerns while removing any misapprehension about curbing creativity and freedom of speech and expression”. The soft tone notwithstanding, these rules force
OTT regularisation: Content creators air views
By IANS| Updated: 27th February 2021 1:17 pm IST
New Delhi: The government has decided to introduce a new set of guidelines for OTT platforms, which has left content creators wondering what will come next. Many on social media have speculated if this is indirect censorship.
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, who has created web series such as “Twisted”, “Maaya” and “Twisted 3”, says: “Unfortunately, the nature of politics is to make issues and there is nothing that makes issues better than Bollywood and showbiz. Yesterday, people were more interested in OTT and social media than in Nirav Modi’s extradition. This is the nature of the beast. I think we can shout, scream and go crazy, that’s the rule of the game.”
OTT regularisation: Content creators air views moneylife.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from moneylife.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Opinion | New IT regulations for social media and OTT platforms are a welcome step
The government on Thursday announced IT rules for social media giants like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google and YouTube and digital OTT platforms like Netflix, Disney Hotstar and others, with particular stress on self-regulation, followed by an Oversight Mechanism to be put in place by the Centre. This is a welcome and revolutionary step taken by the government for the first time since the explosion of news, views, entertainment and other content on social media platforms.
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The rules allow freedom to all to express oneâs views through news, articles and cinematic medium, but a strong âlaxman rekhaâ has been drawn for those who post toxic content on social media. Hate speeches, abusive comments, obscenity, anti-national content, rumours, lies and innuendoes against personalities, Constitutional functionaries and organizations, will invite swift retribution.