The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s views on a petition that calls for regulation of content on video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, renewing a debate on censorship and freedom of expression.The petition seeks the formulation of guidelines or legislation to regulate content to block what it describes as sexually explicit, vulgar and violent content. The special leave petition was filed by an NGO called Justice for Rights Foundation (JRF) against a decision of the Delhi High Court, which had dismissed its public interest litigation calling for censorship in February. The NGO was represented by advocate Harpreet Singh Hora.“The said online platforms are displaying unlicensed, unregulated, uncertified content and collecting subscription amounts from Indian consumers whereas the content telecasted on the online platforms is illegal,” the petition stated. ET has reviewed a copy of the petition.The absence of guidelines has given rise to a special class of broadcasters and this discriminates against customers, cable TV producers and direct-to-home operators, it said.“These platforms are running (in) a legal vacuum in an illegal way. My point, is who is responsible if these platforms’ content causes riots or shows something against India,” said JRF founder Satyam Singh Rajput. “There should be a watchdog for these platforms. The self-regulatory code is a sham, a pretence.”Commenting on the SC move, Karan Bedi, CEO of MX Player, said: “These developments are at a very preliminary stage and there is no clarity on the extent or manner in which the government proposes to regulate OTT (over the top) streaming platforms.”MX Player is owned by Times Internet , the digital arm of the Times Group that owns The Economic Times.Netflix and ALTBalaji declined to comment. Hotstar, Amazon Prime and Jio didn’t respond to queries.In January, online video platforms like Netflix, Hotstar, Jio and ALTBalaji and Eros Now signed a voluntary censorship code that stops them from showing certain kinds of content. They also set up a redressal mechanism for customer complaints.The petitioner has asked the court whether online platforms can be restricted from operating till they get a valid licence from a competent authority and until regulations or legislation are in place.The Delhi High Court had dismissed the plea after it was informed by the central government that the online platforms were neither required to obtain a licence from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, nor was their content regulated by it. The Ministry of Law and Justice had also stated that the matter was outside its domain.The high court had observed that since the law did not require such platforms to acquire a licence, it cannot direct them to get one. The court had suggested the petitioner explore the first information report (FIR) route.A similar plea is pending before the Karnataka High Court where another petitioner has sought regulation of content on online streaming services including Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video. The court issued notices in the matter earlier this year.