The earlier draft invoice was positioned within the public area in November final yr. (Representational)
New Delhi:
The federal government in the present day mentioned it would maintain additional consultations and publish a recent draft of the Broadcasting Providers Regulation Invoice after sure provisions of the earlier draft raised considerations amongst on-line content material creators because it sought to membership them with OTT or digital information broadcasters, bringing them beneath the ambit of the ministry’s Content material and Commercial Code.
The earlier draft invoice and explanatory notes have been positioned within the public area in November final yr.
Media our bodies comparable to DigiPub and the Editors Guild of India claimed that digital media organisations and civil society associations weren’t consulted on the transfer.
The draft invoice additionally drew criticism from the opposition Congress with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accusing the federal government of making an attempt to “gag” digital media, social media, OTT platforms and people who write and communicate in a non-public capability by bringing within the invoice.
The federal government, alternatively, has maintained that the invoice remains to be on the drafting stage and session with stakeholders is at present underway.
The Ministry of Data and Broadcasting in the present day mentioned that extra time has been given to stakeholders until October 15.
“The Ministry is holding a collection of consultations with the stakeholders on the draft invoice. A recent draft can be revealed after detailed consultations,” the ministry mentioned in a submit on X.
The invoice seeks to immediately regulate streaming platforms comparable to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+Hotstar as over-the-top, or OTT, broadcasting companies.
The provisions within the draft invoice would have made it obligatory for particular person on-line content material creators to nominate a grievance redressal officer and a content material analysis committee as soon as they crossed a sure variety of subscribers.
If cleared, it will substitute Cable Tv Community Act in addition to a slew of insurance policies and tips drawn up later to plug holes.
