The Supreme Court on Friday sought the government’s response on a plea to regulate the functioning of online media streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which display “uncertified and sexually explicit” content.
A Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna issued notices to the Ministries of Broadcasting, Law and Communications on an appeal challenging the February 8 order of the Delhi High Court order, which had dismissed the petition.
The High Court had rejected the petition by NGO, Justice For Rights Foundation, after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had informed it that online platforms are not required to obtain any licence from it.
The petitioner said the online platforms were displaying unlicensed, content and collecting subscription amounts from Indian consumers whereas the content was illegal under the provisions of the Indian Cinematograph Act and not cleared by the CBFC.
Central Board for Film Certification but are allowed to be telecasted for the general populace by bypassing the law of the land,” the plea said.
