List steps to be taken on regulating OTT content: SC to Centre

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Centre on a PIL filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha for regulating content on OTT platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime by an autonomous body.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde told Additional Solicitor General K.M. Natraj, representing the Centre, that merely saying the government is considering to steps or contemplating steps on the issue would not be sufficient. The Chief Justice asked “What is it you are doing, a legislation or what? File an affidavit on what do you propose to do?”

The Centre’s counsel submitted the issue is under deliberation, and no steps have been finalised yet. The Chief Justice replied that the court cannot accept mere contemplation, as everybody contemplates. “Notice issued and tag the matter with pending matter,” said the Chief Justice.