'Regulate OTT platforms, but not by govt bodies'

By C Shivmani

HYDERABAD: The debate over whether it is right on the part of the government to have curtailed the free space on the internet by regulating the OTT platforms is still raging. But most contend that the measure infringes upon the right to freedom to freedom of speech and expression.
“The OTT platforms have grown rapidly to become the main source of entertainment. While all other media platforms are regulated and various bodies govern them, the biggest concern in regard to OTT platforms is that they are not regulated,” Ganesh Repati, a Mass Media student based in Hyderabad, said.
According to him, it is essential to regulate the OTT platforms because they sometimes contain indecent content which has been claimed to be religiously inappropriate, vulgar and a slur on women.
“The OTT platforms may have boosted the careers of many artists, directors and others. Yes, I agree they are the best alternatives for cinema but there should be some rules and regulations on these online platforms to avoid controversies. The Government also needs to be careful that these regulations are not an infringement of the freedom and creativity of directors and film-makers,” he said.
For 20-year-old Naga Vasu who is a student of diploma in media studies in Hyderabad, the regulations curtail creative freedom. “All OTT platforms should agree to carry out strict content mechanisms for access control (like child locks), but imposing a lot of regulations would undermine creative freedom. Why should only OTT platforms be censored? What about the other content on the Internet,” he asked.
Censorship kills creativity, feels Vasu and this, he adds, can be understood by seeing how good the content on OTT platforms is as compared to movies released in theatres. “Content released in theatres undergoes censorship by the Censor Board but still they are not up to the mark. Streaming content is like a product which discloses its content and lets the consumer decide if he or she wants to purchase it,” he added.
“Today all major streaming platforms are following their own standards. In future, there may be need of a regulatory body that standardises the system and helps keep a close eye on the content, but it should not have the power completely censor any content,” Vasu says.
Regulation of content includes compulsory licensing and certification. But the fact is Internet is a global platform and regulating all the content on the Internet is next to impossible.
The proposed code, also known as ‘Code of Best Practices for Online Curated Content’ aims at making illegal any content that is derogatory to the national flag or national emblem, any content that promotes illicit activities such as terrorism, child pornography; Content that is offensive for the sentiments of any religious community or any other content which is banned by the country. However, the code has been criticized for using umbrella terms, and the non-specificity of the language used may cause violations of speech and expression.
There should be some regulations on such platforms but the Government should also be careful not to curb the distinct advantages that OTT platforms provide.
“There should be a self- regulatory authority which is an independent body consisting of industry professionals. There should be minimum interference of Government bodies. Once Government bodies interfere there would be a lot of limitations and OTT platforms would not have a free hand for sharing the content. A stringent policy and regulation in this sector will also discourage future investors thereby directly and negatively affect the industry,” he said.
The goal should be a sustainable platform with the freedom to express art without causing disruptions in society and hurting sentiments of any gender, ethnicity or race. Students should have a say as they will bring progressive ideas and will be the main benefactors of the changes, he added.

(The story first appeared in The Times of Bennett, the lab newspaper produced by the first semester students of The Times School of Media.)
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