Rajeev Chandrasekhar says govt won’t allow online gaming industry seize self-regulatory body

IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the government is committed to growth of online gaming with new rules safeguarding digital citizens, but will not allow hijacking of the proposed self-regulatory body, that will operate at arm’s length from the industry and have equitable representation.

SRO or the self-regulatory body will be an institutional body that will be tasked with registering online gaming intermediaries, and certifying what is a permitted online game and what is not. The Minister also clarified that duties of the SRO as proposed by its board, will be approved by the government. He said, “We are going by the principle of accountability and transparency. The government will certainly not allow the industry to hijack the SRO.”

The Minister also informed that many of the burning issues around online user harm, safety and trust, safeguarding children from addictive intermediaries or platforms will be addressed in the upcoming Digital India Act, that will replace the Information Technology Act.

Many educators have urged the Minister to ensure that the proposed self-regulatory body “operates at an arm’s length from the industry”, and pushed for framing of ‘objective criteria' so the process is not abused by the industry.