Seeks removal of objectionable contents, wants guidelines

A petition moved before the Delhi High Court has sought framing of guidelines to regulate the functioning of online media streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, claiming that they show “uncertified, sexually explicit and vulgar” content.

Hearing on Nov 14

The High Court has listed the case for hearing on November 14.

NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, in its plea, has claimed that online media streaming platforms, also including Hotstar, show content which is “unregulated and uncertified” for public viewing. The plea has sought the court’s direction to remove objectionable contents from online platforms with immediate effect.

Vulgar content

In its petition filed through advocate Harpreet S. Hora, the NGO has said that television series like Sacred Games, Game of Thrones and Spartacus, shown on online media streaming platforms like Netflix, contain “vulgar, profane, sexually explicit, pornographic, morally unethical and virulent” content which often “depict women in objectifying manner”.

It has sought directions to the Ministries of Communication, Information and Broadcasting as well as Law and Justice to frame guidelines to regulate such platforms and the content they broadcast.

The petitioner alleged that the content is violative of Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act.