Government of India issues an order bringing the regulation of online news portals and content providers and also streaming services such as Netflix, Hotstar ,Amazon Prime will come  under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a first step to regulate digital media.

News on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram will also come under the ministry, as will audio-visual content on online platforms, according to the announcement .

According to local media, the government will pass a law in Parliament detailing the regulation of online media. Currently The Press Council of India takes care of the print media, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) monitors news channels, the Advertising Standards Council of India is for advertising while the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) takes care of films.

While electronic media in India is regulated by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995, there was no law or body to oversee digital content in the past.

The latest order comes after the Supreme Court sought answers from the government last month after hearing a petition to regulate content on OTT platforms.

In September, 15 live-streaming platforms announced self-regulation to pre-empt censorship after right-wing activists called for regulation of online content.

Streaming services have gained traction in India because of the availability of affordable smartphones and cheap mobile data, making the South Asian nation a battleground for Amazon, Netflix and Disney as they seek to expand outside their home markets.

That growth in streaming services, along with internet advertising, sports and music, is expected to help India’s media and entertainment industry increase 10.1% annually on average to reach $55 billion by 2024, PwC predicts.

News and current affairs content on online media, such as Facebook and Twitter, will also come under the new regulatory regime, the government circular added. Online news was not previously regulated.

Last year, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that the government will not take any step that may curb media freedom, adding there should be some kind of regulation on over-the-top platforms, as there is for the print and electronic media as well as films.

Source- NDTV News

Country- India