Harnessing and tightening the legal noose around the media and OTT Platform.

Abstract

OTT platforms analogous to parallel media for entertainment, currently have no legislation or body, regulating them. Though a very powerful democratic tool, to promote independent, responsible and healthy journalism and online OTT content, it has proved to also have a darker side and prove to be a bane, due to no regulation. Several benefits associated have led this platform to become the first choice of many producers and directors, very cost effective, opportunity to produce original work unhampered with fear of censorship. Furthermore it being an accessible inexpensive medium makes it even more appealing to the viewers. We need to weigh the proposed merits and probable drawbacks of the regulatory controls in the light of the fundamental rights of the media and the right to privacy of citizens. However if regulated the OTT will lose its edge if censored. OTT is yielding more unique and out-of-the-box content every day, “Censorship also sets a dangerous precedent for limiting expression of viewpoints, both creatively and politically.”A code of ethics and Government controls balanced with each other is the only way forward.