The Government of India has clarified that streaming content will remain outside the purview of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). This has been seen by many as a progressive step.
Does this mean that OTT content will not be regulated at all? The 2021 Information Technology Rules will be invoked to ensure that streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Jio Hotstar and ZEE5 "self-classify their content in accordance with age".
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issued this statement: "OTT content to remain outside CBFC Jurisdiction; Three-Tier Institutional Mechanism under IT rules in place. The Code of Ethics requires OTT platforms to avoid publishing content prohibited by law and undertake age-based classification of content as per the guidelines in the Rules."
In the recent past, high-profile controversies (like those surrounding Tandav or Mirzapur) led to FIRs against platform executives. To avoid legal battles, platforms often practice "creative self-censorship," choosing to edit scripts or remove scenes before they are even filmed. Global platforms (read Netflix and Amazon Prime Video) have had to stream "sanitized" versions of global shows.
