Delhi HC to hear PIL seeking content regulation on Netflix and others

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday said that it will hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking removal of “vulgar and sexually explicit” content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and others on November 14.

The petition, filed by NGO Justice for Rights through advocate Harpreet S Hora, seeks a law or guidelines for regulating the contents available on online platforms. “Content on such online platforms shows women in bad light and merely as an object, which is also violative of their fundamental right to live with dignity as enshrined under Article 21,” the PIL said.

The petitioner said that online platforms offered vulgar, sexually explicit, pornographic, profane, virulent, religiously forbidden and morally unethical contents to attract more subscribers and generate profit.

The NGO alleged that the contents were violative of Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act.

The PIL stated that these online platforms broadcast content, which must carry reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India and be granted certificate so that it complies with certain standards and regulations to not adversely affect children, youth and public in general. “Online platforms are not regulated and due to lack of specific certifications, such web-exclusive content goes unchecked due to lack of legislation, guidelines or provisions of laws specifically dealing with such content on the said online platforms,” it added.