The Indian government has warned television and movie producers that they will not tolerate abusive language, particularly in on-demand streaming services. This move illustrates how the nation’s IT rules have “handed over direct ministerial power for censorship” to the government.
The Ministry of Information Broadcasting, Sports and Youth Affairs is receiving reports of increasing instances of abusive language being used in the name of creativity. Anurag Thakur said at a press conference that this will not be tolerated and that violators will be punished. This statement is likely to encourage more people to speak out about instances of abuse they witness or experience, in order to ensure that it does not become normalised.
The situation with Jammu and Kashmir’s special status has created tension between New Delhi and the state’s main party, the National People’s Party (NPP), which accuses the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to change the Constitution to make it more like those in other states. Thakur warned that New Delhi would not shy away from “making any changes” in the rules to address this situation.
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mr. Shajahan Audu, has affirmed that the government will not back down from taking whatever necessary action on platforms like Google Images and YouTube which are being used to distribute indecent content. He made this statement during a conference yesterday. While many people may be in support of the minister’s stance, some believe that these platforms should be given more freedom in order to allow for creativity to flourish.
The IT Rules, 2021 were supposed to usher in “self-regulation”, however they handed over direct ministerial power for censorship over OTTs. If we read legal developments in Cable Broadcast as contemporary history there is a clear path towards neutering creativity and control.
— Apar (@apar1984) March 20, 2023
The 21st century saw the emergence of online television (OTT) services, which allow users to watch streaming programs without having to subscribe to a cable or satellite TV provider. Initially hailed as a way to give consumers more choice and flexibility, OTTs have come under scrutiny in recent years because of the increased potential for censorship and content restrictions.
In 2018, the European Union adopted sweeping new regulations aimed at regulating OTT services. Under these rules, firms that operate OTT services must undergo annual reviews by the European Commission in order to ensure that they uphold freedom of expression and consumer rights. However, critics worry that this provision gives ministers too much power to censor content without any meaningful bidirectional accountability mechanism in place.
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Many viewers of the show were unhappy with the way Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was being treated and his behavior on-screen. Many people felt that he was not being given a fair chance to prove himself, and that he was being given preferential treatment. Some people also feel that the show is exploitative, and is used to promote his teachings instead of simply entertainment.
The minister’s remarks come as Amazon and Netflix are being pressured to refuse licenses to produce content in India that could provoke religious anger. Both companies have faced criticism for the choices they have made in choosing which shows and movies to approve for release in India, a highly populous country with a large population of religiously diverse people. The companies have been accused of pandering to too narrow a slice of Indian society and not giving enough consideration to cultural nuances.
The apology made by Amazon following the distressing scenes of depictions of Hindus in a new season of their Prime Video show, “Transparent” created a rift between the company and its Hindu viewers. The uproar began after it was revealed that one of the main characters on the show is transgender and is identified as a Hindu male throughout most of the series.
