Is the self regulation code on OTTs the right move?

Rishabh Suri

Censorship on OTT platforms, or rather the lack of it, has been a hotly debated topic for a while now. But now, 15 OTT platforms, including Netflix, Disney Plus Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Voot, Jio Cinema, Eros Now, Hungama and Shemaroo, have signed a self regulation code, to govern their curated streaming content. They aim to do this by adhering to disclosures such as, specifying maturity ratings and content descriptors (e.g., language, violence, sex), and it’s effective immediately. Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO, ALTBalaji, says, “The Universal Self Regulation Code was long due. The existence of individual structural grievance redressal body will empower the consumers in making the entire process more organised.” Each platform which has signed this code created by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) will also have to set up a consumer complaints department and/or an internal committee, and an advisory panel to deal with appeals and complaints. Tarun Katial, CEO, Zee5, adds, “With the Framework for Age Classification, Content Descriptions and parental controls in combination with a grievance redressal system, we’ve made it easier for consumers to make the right viewing decisions for themselves and their families.” Explaining why this self regulation by various platform is to circumvent censorship, trade analyst Komal Nahta says, “A joint self regulation code is nothing but a way of ensuring that censorship is not made compulsory, in fact it can never be, because how do you control today with the internet?” Producer Pritish Nandy is against ‘all forms of restrictions’, and feels maybe this regulation could be better than censorship. “Freedom of expression is best,” Nandy says. Scan the code to know more about what this regulation code entails