MIB framing rules for self-regulatory bodies for OTT & digital news publishers

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is in the process of framing the guidelines for the self-regulatory bodies to be formed for the OTT players and digital news publishers. The new IT Rules, which came into effect in May this year, mandate the formation of self-regulatory bodies.

As per the new IT Rules, every digital publisher has to be a member of a self-regulatory body. The new IT Rules mandates a three-tier system for regulating content of OTT platforms.

The self-regulatory bodies have a very important role to play in ensuring that their members, be it digital news publishers of OTT platforms, adhere to the code of ethics laid down by the new IT Rules. These bodies will intervene in cases where the individual publisher of OTT player has not been able to resolve the grievances, and will address these grievances.

More importantly, the new IT Rules give the self-regulatory bodies more power to warn a member on the complaint received regarding its content and even reclassify ratings. The self-regulatory bodies will screen the complaints and act as a filter before they reach the government.