The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response from the Centre on a petition seeking framing of guidelines to regulate online media streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
A Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V.K. Rao said it was seeking response from the government on the plea which alleged that the online media streaming platforms show uncertified, sexually explicit, vulgar and morally unethical contents. The court has posted the petition by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation for further hearing in February next. The NGO has claimed that series like “Sacred Games”, “Game of Thrones” and “Spartacus”, shown on online streaming platforms contain “vulgar, profane, sexually explicit, pornographic, morally unethical and virulent” content which often “depict women in objectifying manner”. The NGO alleged that the contents were violative of Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act.
It sought directions to the ministries of communication, information and broadcasting as well as law and justice to frame guidelines to regulate such platforms and the content they broadcast.
The plea has also sought an order to the ministries to direct the online platforms “to remove legally restricted content with immediate effect”.