The proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024 marks a significant shift in India’s digital landscape, aiming to consolidate the regulatory framework for OTT platforms and Digital News Broadcasters. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the bill introduces the Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) and the Broadcast Advisory Council to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics. It also explores allowing news on Private FM News Broadcast channels, replacing the older self-regulatory models under the IT Rules 2021.
A comprehensive policy on OTT content creation is being explored by the government, including groundbreaking provisions for news on Private FM News Broadcast channels. Issuing a robust OTT regulation formulation in response to grappling complaints about OTT platforms, the Indian government appears to be on its way to setting a new standard with the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024. Reportedly, L. Murugan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and Parliamentary Affairs, has revealed that the ministry has been assessing the concerns and suggestions of stakeholders and the public in order to better prepare the policy being presented in Parliament.
This revision comes amidst reports that OTT services are flouting existing self-regulatory conventions mandated by the IT Rules 2021. Murugan further informed that even though the platforms have put some measures in place like classification of the viewers and content advisory, the members of the public, as well as people from the industry, have registered concerns regarding the effectiveness and the consistency of adherence to the Code of Ethics amongst the practitioners of the profession and the industry at large.
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Self-Regulation, CEC, and Statutory Oversight
As it stands, OTT services still place disclaimers and tags that advise the viewer on appropriate content for them or place a Parental Lock over the content where necessary. Such aims are meant to assist the audience in making suitable viewing decisions. Despite those steps, however, Murugan has reported that many complaints regarding violations of Obscenity laws remain unanswered and many continue to flood in.
To address these regulatory gaps, the new bill proposes the establishment of a Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) for internal certification and a Broadcast Advisory Council to handle grievances. These bodies will oversee content compliance, ensuring that Digital News Broadcasters and entertainment platforms alike operate within a unified legal framework.
