Centre issues guidelines for Social media & OTT platforms: Here's why it was required

Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad Thursday held a press conference at National Media Centre in New Delhi to issue guidelines for social media, digital media, and OTT platforms. With rise in FIRs filed against web series, concerns being raised each day for 'unintentionally hurting sentiments' and rampant abuse of social media platform, Centre issued 'reasonable and responsible' regulations.

Here's looking at some recent controversies that foreshadowed to this step by Centre —

Tandav Controversy

Amazon Prime Video's Tandav series was accused of hurting religious sentiments for its depiction of Hindu deities. Tandav, a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood biggies- Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, became centre of controversy over a scene with Zeeshan Ayyub, in role of college student Shiva, playing Hindu god Mahadev in a atre production. As controversy escalated, show makers tried to defuse situation and removed controversial portion from show.

makers and actors were booked in Luckw under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, and so on), 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class), 501 (1)(B) (public mischief with intent to cause fear or alarm) of IPC and under relevant sections of Information Techlogy Act.

Centre says Netflix movie 'Gunjan Saxena' depicts IAF in a bad light

Centre and IAF filed a plea seeking a stay on broadcast, telecast, digital, or OTT release as well as atre release of Gunjan Saxena: Kargil Girl claiming that it maligns 'dignity and reputation' of IAF. y also said that film's portrayal of IAF shows practices of biases which 'dams IAF's reputation' and C has been taken from IAF by film producers.

y furr contended that film was t shown to preview committee and MoU was signed before release which is a general practice. Delhi HC refused to grant an interim stay on broadcast of film based on Gunjan Saxena's life while asking Dharma Productions Private Limited, Karan Yash Johar, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, Netflix, and ors to file a response on Centre and IAF's plea against film. 

AK vs AK controversy

Indian Air Force took objection to "inaccurately" donned uniform of force as well as langu used in trailer of Anil Kapoor starrer Netflix movie AK vs AK. Anil Kapoor later took to his Twitter handle to share a video and tendered an apology for same. Kapoor also explained why he is wearing uniform and reason behind using 'unparliamentary langu.'

In a tweet, Indian Air Force (IAF) said: "related scenes" are needed to be withdrawn. " IAF uniform in this video is inaccurately donned & langu used is inappropriate. This does t conform to behavioral rms of those in Armed Forces of India. related scenes need to be withdrawn. @NetflixIndia @anuragkashyap72," IAF tweeted.

In trailer, Kapoor is seen donning an untucked trademark blue full sleeve shirt of IAF. In one of dialogues, Kapoor used cuss words. Content platform Netflix too apologized and wrote, "Hon. @IAF_MCC, our intention would never be to disrespect Armed Forces of India in any regard. AK Vs. AK is a film in which Anil Kapoor and his co-stars are playing mselves as actors."

Or OTT shows

Huma Qureshi starrer Leila was criticised as it hurt Hindu sentiments by promoting Hinduphobia. Popular series such as Sacred Games, A Suitable Boy and Mirzapur among several ors that have ended up in court cases.

Centre to release OTT platform guidelines; tentative rules for Netflix, Hotstar & co here

Abuse of Social Media

Social media's potential to proliferate and amplify fake news and special interests has been spoken about at world st, and India is hardly an exception. Social media giants are at loggerheads with governments here as y are abroad and a study of some of reasons reflects a definite sense of double-standards in terms of rules. 

Over past months, WhatsApp and Twitter have been called out by Government of India -  IT Ministry in particular - for such double standards. WhatsApp has put on hold a privacy policy update for India that it hasn't tried to impose on its users in Europe, for instance, whereas Twitter has shown reluctance to suspend anti-India handles that spread dangerous rumours and instigated on-ground rioting on Republic Day in New Delhi, but has qualms about shutting out n sitting US President Donald Trump on account of Capitol Hill riot from first week of January.

Facebook has also come in for its fair share of criticism and controversy, especially in Australia where it blocked news publishing on account of government insisting it pay news publishers for posting ir content. While Facebook contended that it provides reach, for which it put forth a huge money value without adequately explaining why. stand-off between Australia and Facebook, which has witnessed a thaw on Thursday following negotiations and compromises on both sides, is likely being watched and studied across globe.

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