Netflix, hotstar will censor content

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Netflix Inc and Hotstar plan to adopt self-regulation guidelines for content streamed on their platforms in India in an effort to prevent potential government censorship, said sources familiar with the matter.

India’s laws currently do not mandate any censorship of content on online streaming platforms. But global video streaming market leader, Netflix, was drawn into a legal battle last year after a complaint that its first Indian original series Sacred Games insulted former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The battle raised concerns in the industry that the government could, at some point, look at regulating content on online streaming platforms.

A draft of an unofficial code that will be adopted by Netflix, Hotstar and other local players, seen by Reuters, said that the platforms would prohibit content that shows a child “engaged in real or simulated sexual activities”, is disrespectful of India’s national flag or encourages “terrorism”. Amazon Inc’s Prime Video will not sign the code, though it helped draft it, as the company does not want to act in the absence of government-mandated regulation, one of the sources said. Subho Ray, President of the Internet and Mobile Association of India, which drafted the code with industry consultation, said it would be made public on Thursday, and the final version would include changes when compared to the draft. Amazon Prime Video said it is assessing the situation but believes “the current laws are adequate”.