Government Weighs Statutory Overhaul for Digital Streaming

NEW DELHI — In response to a mounting volume of public grievances, the Union government is actively exploring a comprehensive legal mechanism to bridge regulatory gaps in the oversight of content streamed on over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

Senior officials familiar with the development told Daily News 365 that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has held multiple high-level consultations with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The discussions center on whether existing legislative instruments can be suitably amended or if an entirely separate statutory framework is necessary to regulate digital media effectively.

Addressing the Regulatory Divide

The deliberations have focused on potential amendments to foundational statutes such as the Cinematograph Act or the Information Technology Act. Currently, theatrical releases are subjected to pre-certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. In contrast, digital streaming services operate under a distinct framework that lacks a mandatory pre-censorship regime.

Instead, OTT platforms are presently governed by Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. While these rules mandate a Code of Ethics, five-tier age-based categorizations (U, U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A), parental locks, and age-verification mechanisms, officials note that the current enforcement architecture may require strengthening.

Surge in Public Representations

The push for legislative reassessment follows a steady and unprecedented inflow of public complaints. According to senior ministry sources, the MIB has received upwards of 1,000 representations per month over the past six months. A significant portion of these grievances highlights concerns regarding obscenity, vulgarity, and the cultural appropriateness of online narratives.

"The representations reflect a growing demand from various societal segments for heightened oversight of digital content," an official noted, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Proposed Tiered Architecture

While the exact contours of the final legal framework are still being finalized, the prevailing consensus among policymakers points toward a structured, multi-tiered approach. Under this proposed model:

* Self-Regulation: Platforms will retain the primary responsibility for reviewing and addressing initial consumer complaints. * Grievance Redressal Systems: Unresolved grievances will be escalated to internal appellate bodies established by the digital publishers. * Ministerial Intervention: Government oversight will serve as the final, ultimate layer of intervention only when disputes remain unresolved through the primary mechanisms.

As the government weighs its options between statutory amendments and targeted rules, the ongoing consultations signal a pivotal shift toward stricter accountability for India's rapidly expanding digital entertainment sector.

Reporting by Gaurav Sen for Daily News 365.