Government proposed new law to regulate OTTs

The Center has come up with a new bill that aims to combine the regulatory framework for various broadcasting services, including over-the-top (OTT) content. Once the bill is passed, it will also regulate OTT giants like Netflix, Amazon and Disney + Hotstar by setting up content evaluation committees.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur wrote, “Advancing the Honorable Prime Minister's vision for 'Ease of Doing Business' and 'Ease of Living,' we're proud to introduce the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill. This pivotal legislation modernizes our broadcasting sector's regulatory framework, replacing outdated Acts, Rules, and Guidelines with a unified, future-focused approach"

He also said that the Bill aims to replace the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act of 1995 and other out-of-date legislation with a ‘futuristic focused approach’. A major component of the new law is forming 'Content Evaluation Committees' and changing the inter-departmental committee on a ‘Broadcast Advisory Council’.

To advise the government on violations related to advertisement code and programme code, a new Broadcast Advisory Council will also be set up. The council will be spearheaded by a sectoral expert and will also include eminent persons and bureaucrats, reported a news source.

A draft document of the new legislation quoted by another news source read, “Every broadcaster or broadcasting network operator must establish a Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) with members from various social groups."

The new bill with a particular focus on self-regulatory bodies has provisions where such bodies can penalize their members through monetary and non-monetary penalties for contravention of norms and articles, reported by a news agency.

The report added that penalties included in the bill include warning, monetary penalties for operators or broadcasters, advisory or censure. The legislation also deals with imprisonment or fines for very serious offences.