Lok Sabha Question No. 734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Regulation of OTT Platforms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Pinaki Misra, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Ravneet Singh, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Manoj Rajoria, (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria, Rajendra Agrawal, Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Gangasandra Siddappa Basavaraj, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Subrata Pathak, Nayab Singh, Dean Kuriakose, Prathap Simha, Shobha Karandlaje, Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Basanta Kumar Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTON  NO. 734 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/02/2021)

## REGULATION OF OTT PLATFORM

## 734.  SHRI: PINAKI MISRA

SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE

SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU

SHRI RAVI KISHAN

DR. MANOJ RAJORIA

DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA

SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA

SHRI MANOJ KOTAK

SHRI G.S. BASAVRAJ

SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK

SHRI NAYAB SINGH

ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

SHRI B.B. PATIL

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

(a)  the  estimated  number  of  users  and  market  size  of  Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms in the country;

- (b)  Whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  facts  that  content/web series aired on OTT platforms is full of sex, violence, abuse, vulgarity and disrespect to religious  sentiments  and  if  so,  the  reaction  of  the Government thereto along with complaints received in this regard so far sate/UT-wise;

(c)  the  current  procedure  and  penalty  under  law  for  violation  of religious sentiments by OTT platforms;

(d)  whether  the  Government  rejected  the  self  regulation  guidelines developed  by  OTT  platform  and  streaming  services  and  if  so,  the reasons therefore;

- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  bring  in  new regulation laws or constitute a regulatory authority for censoring OTT platforms  in  order  to  address  the  issue  of  sensitive,  objectionable, vulgarity, obscene, fake video contents, if so; the details thereof and the time line fixed for the purpose; and
- (f)    whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  consultation  process with the concerned stakeholders in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY  INDUSTRIES  AND  PUBLIC  ENTGERPRISES  {SHRI  PRAKASH JAVADEKAR}

(a):   It has been reported that there are about 40 Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms presently operating in the country.

(b) to (f):  The Government has received several grievances/complaints regarding content of programmes on OTT platforms. The Government also  has  held  several  consultations  with  the  OTT  players,  including with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)  impressing upon them the need for having an appropriate self-regulatory mechanism for content over OTT platforms. In August, 2020, the IAMAI had informed the Ministry that a self-regulatory mechanism had been developed for the OTT platforms. On examination it was felt that the mechanism proposed  by  IAMAI  did  not  give  adequate  cognizance  to content  prohibited  under  law  and  there  were  issues  of  conflict  of interest, which were communicated to IAMAI in September, 2020.

The Central Government has vide notification dated 9.11.2020 amended the Allocation of Business Rules and the subject relating to content of news and current affairs and audio-visual content on online platforms has been  brought  in the mandate  of  the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

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