Some OTT platforms show even porn: Supreme Court
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 4
Expressing concern over pornographic content on some over-the-top (OTT) platforms, the Supreme Court on Thursday said there should be a mechanism to screen such programmes.
A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to place before it on Friday the recent guidelines issued by the Centre to regulate social media platforms.
Last week, the Centre had notified Information Technology (Guidelines for intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021), to regulate the functioning of online media portals and publishers, OTT platforms and social media intermediaries.
“A balance has to be struck as some OTT platforms are also showing pornographic materials on their platforms,” the Bench said deferring to Friday hearing on Amazon Prime Video India head Aparna Purohit’s plea for anticipatory bail in connection with FIRs against her over controversial web series ‘Tandav’.
On behalf of Purohit, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the case against her was “shocking” as she was an employee of Amazon.
She was neither a producer nor an actor, but still she had been made an accused in around 10 cases across India in relation to “Tandav” that started streaming recently.
Javadekar dispels myths around new rules
New Delhi: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said representatives from over the top (OTT) industry have been explained provisions of the new rules governing them. “The Ministry and industry will partner together to make the OTT experience better for all audiences,” he said. Informing the industry representatives about the rules, the minister said it merely requires them to disclose information and that there was no requirement of registration of any kind with the ministry. TNS
Cheque bounce: SC for law on more courts
New Delhi: As over 35 lakh of cases relating to dishonour of cheques clog the subordinate courts across India, the Supreme Court on Thursday termed it “grotesque” and suggested to the government to come up with a law to create additional courts for a particular period to handle such cases. — TNS
