Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar to be regulated? SC seeks Centre’s response

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking to regulate the content featured on online media streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, issued notice to the ministries of I&B and law on a petition calling for framing of guidelines for these over-the-top (OTT) platforms as they show “uncertified, sexually explicit and vulgar” content.

The plea filed by Justice for Rights, an NGO, was earlier (in February) dismissed by the Delhi High Court after the court had been informed by the Centre that the online platforms were neither required to obtain a licence from the ministry of information and broadcasting nor was its content regulated by it. The ministry of law and justice had also said the matter was outside its domain.