Government regulation of IT rules for OTT platforms, measures against ZEE5: Report | Today’s news

New Delhi: The government is considering amending the IT Rules 2021 to certify films before releasing them on OTT platforms, a development that comes amid the controversy over the film ‘Satluj’ being released without any clearances.

Sources said the government is considering making mandatory certification and clearance from the Censor Board before any film is released on OTT platforms. This requires an amendment to the IT rules.

A senior government official said they are also considering action against the intermediary ZEE5 for screening the uncensored film “Satluj”, which was still under review by the Board of Censors of Film Certification (CBFC) and several cuts were suggested in the film.

However, OTT content currently falls outside the purview of the CBFC.

The film was pulled from ZEE5 two days after its release on July 3 following a government order citing national security concerns.

Screening the film “Satluj” at private venues without certification, a government functionary said it was up to the state government to ensure the law was followed and take action against violators.

Directed by Honey Trehan, the film chronicles the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 and was kidnapped and murdered by police in 1995.

“Satluj” is being screened privately in several places, including Gurdwaras across Punjab, and the issue is being politicized ahead of the assembly elections due early next year.

Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 empowers the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to invoke Section 69A of the IT Act as part of a mechanism to monitor OTT content outside the purview of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Section 69A empowers the government to block online content on grounds of India’s sovereignty and integrity, defence, national security, friendly relations with foreign states and public order.

A commission set up by the Center to examine the content of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer ‘Satluj’ is learned to have recommended that the ban on its public access through online streaming platforms be maintained as the film allegedly goes against India’s sovereignty and integrity, government sources said earlier.