The Supreme Court today issued notice in a petition seeking regulation of content on online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, reports Bar & Bench (see copy of the order below). Filed by NGO Justice for Rights, the petition was dismissed by the Delhi High Court in February, and had sought formulation of guidelines to regulate content on online streaming platforms. In its appeal to the SC against the dismissal, Justice for Rights' has argued that: platforms are not only displaying unlicensed, unregulated and uncertified content, but also running without being governed by any guidelines. government agencies are creating a special class of broadcasters and discriminating against customers, Cable TV producers, and D2H operators due to the absence/lack of guidelines to govern online platforms The Delhi HC had dismissed the PIL stating that streaming platforms did not need to acquire a license to operate and that the Centre did not regulate this category of companies. Further, Chief Justice Rajendra Menon had dismissed the plea stating that this was not a public interest case. The PIL in the Delhi HC had: sought to remove “vulgar and sexually explicit” content from these platforms. argued that online streaming platforms violated the Indian Penal code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act, and sought to remove “legally restricted” content with immediate effect. asked for directions for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Ministry of Telecom to frame guidelines to regulate the platforms and their content. Justice for Rights’ lawyer Harpreet Hora had…
