The parliamentary committee on Communications And Information Technology is set to pose restrictions and review the matters related to curbing of fake news and narratives and also the issues related to the emergence of OTT platforms.
The panel, which is headed by BJP minister Nishikant Dubey has selected several issues that pose a problem to the society. Apart from fake news and OTTs the panel will also keep a check on the emergence of new forms of currencies like cryptocurrency and issues related to the malicious use of AI.
As per the Lok Sabha bulletin issued on Tuesday, the committee will select for review every form of media in the country. Even the public broadcasting channel Prasar Bharati too will be taken under examination.
The committee aims in aiding the hundreds of people who fall victim to cyber crimes, fake news and narratives and frauds and scams. As a result a lot of useful resources of the country are lost. The committee aims to help these people and ensure a halt to such problems in the future.
The committee will also eye on regulating the distribution of content in the OTT platforms. OTTs have enjoyed the privilege of getting freedom from censorship and presenting unregulated content to the audience. As a result, it led to many controversies and protests by people on several series, films etc. that were way out of line.
The committee will probably look forward to setting certain guidelines pertaining to the distribution of the type of content in OTT platforms. This will bring in the era when OTTs will no longer provide unfiltered content. People often argue that the government may present a biassed mindset to what should and shouldn’t be shown in the media and hence regulations should not be imposed. But another wing argues about the misinformation and propaganda spread through the unregulated content. And also how many people are offended by the same.
Whatever be the reason for it, regulation on OTT platforms will result in a huge change in the Indian entertainment industry. It will completely change the way in which the OTT platforms work in the Indian market.