Is India Planning to Regulate OTT Platforms?

A heated discussion started among young Indians about whether the Government of India plans to implement stricter regulations on OTT platforms.

Hannah Maria reported it after interviewing a group of people of different ages who started this discussion.

Let us check the basis of this new rumor and investigate whether current laws are enough.

Hanna Maria says the rumor began after a discussion conducted at WAVES by the TRAI Chairman.

TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti stated that TRAI does not believe the current legal framework is fair. He said the current regulations put traditional broadcasting at a disadvantage compared to the OTT platforms.

Anil Kumar Lahoti was with other panelists in a WAVES discussion, Regulating Broadcast in the Digital Age: Key Frameworks and Challenges.

His point is simple. OTT platforms follow the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code. However, the traditional broadcasting services follow a stricter Telecommunication Act and the Cable TV Network Act.

Anil Kumar Lahoti started a new wave of discussion about whether traditional broadcasting services like cable TV networks and Television channels are at a disadvantage compared to the OTT platforms.

A careful analysis by CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions' legal expert Pradeep Kumar states it is true. He agreed with the TRAI Chairman's opinion.

The 'Telecommunication Act and the Cable TV Network Act' have harsh regulations compared to the mild Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code.

But Pradeep Kumar says the point we should focus on is whether the OTT platforms take advantage of it.

Hanna Maria interviewed a group of people for CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions. Let me share their views here.

"I fully support the views of the TRAI chairman. Someone should control the extreme contents in the OTT platforms", Sangeetha Vijayan says.

Sangeetha Vijayan is a homemaker and mother of two daughters. She fears the current laws are too liberal to allow OTT platforms to spread content harmful to family audiences.

Ashok Agarwal, a retired army officer, shared a similar view. He is staying in Bengaluru with his son's family.

His son and daughter-in-law are IT professionals working for a reputed Software company. Because of their busy schedule, they have no time to monitor their children.

Ashok fears the chances of his grandchildren watching content inappropriate for their age are high.

"It is unacceptable. The government is encroaching on people's choices", Shruthi Reddy says.

Shruthi is a second-year Computer Science and Engineering student studying in Bengaluru. She said she would watch OTT platforms via proxy services if the Government of India implements its agenda of restricting the content.

Laxmi Panagariya, a senior software developer, said she does not care. She said she uses only Jio Hotstar and Netflix.

Laxmi does not think a strict OTT content regulation will affect her.