Supreme Court Dismisses Plea for OTT Regulation in India
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that called for a regulatory board to oversee over-the-top (OTT) and streaming platforms. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, expressed concerns about the nature of PILs focusing on policy issues.
The plea, filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, argued that OTT platforms lack the checks and balances that traditional media, such as films and TV, are subject to. Jha highlighted that OTT content often includes explicit scenes, violence, and substance abuse without proper warnings, as it bypasses the certification process required for theatrical releases.
The petition criticized the inefficiency of the IT Rules 2021, which were introduced to self-regulate OTT platforms. It claimed that these platforms exploit loopholes, leading to unchecked controversial content with potential national security implications.
The plea sought the establishment of a regulatory body to prevent harm by monitoring and managing digital content before it reaches the public. It suggested that this body be led by an IAS officer and include members from various fields such as media, defense, and education.
The petition emphasized the disparity between the regulation of traditional media and OTT platforms, calling it arbitrary and unjustifiable.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions on legal matters and ensures that laws are followed correctly.
Plea -: A plea is a request made to a court asking for a specific action or decision. In this case, it was a request to regulate OTT platforms.
OTT Platforms -: OTT stands for Over-The-Top, which refers to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime that deliver content over the internet without needing traditional cable or satellite TV.
PIL -: PIL stands for Public Interest Litigation. It is a legal action taken in a court of law for the protection of public interest.
Regulatory Board -: A regulatory board is a group of people who make rules and guidelines to control how something operates. In this context, it would oversee the content on OTT platforms.
IT Rules 2021 -: The IT Rules 2021 are guidelines set by the Indian government to regulate digital content and social media. They aim to ensure safe and responsible use of the internet.
Traditional Media -: Traditional media includes newspapers, radio, and television. These have been around for a long time and are usually regulated by government rules.
