Editor's Pick: streaming platforms adopt regulation toolkit

The Hindu Newsletter - Newsletter - subject [The Hindu Logo]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( Friday 12, February 2021 [alt_text]( Editor's Pick Streaming platforms sign up for self-regulation [alt_text]( (The Editor's Pick is a new newsletter from The Hindu that provides a snapshot of the most important stories from today's edition of our newspaper, along with a note from our top editors on why we chose to give prominence to these stories.) Seventeen streaming platforms in India have adopted a['toolkit' for self-regulation]( under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). These include big names such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney. The toolkit is meant to help the platforms implement a self-regulation code that was adopted by them September last year. The IAMAI said that along with guidelines on implementing the code, the toolkit also "addresses the feedback received from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on the issues of conflict of interest and prohibited content." These over-the-top (OTT) platforms have had no regulatory law or authority so far. Anticipating government intervention, there were two attempts at coming up with a [self-regulation code](: one in January 2019, which the government found inadequate; and one in February 2020, which met with opposition from among the platforms themselves. The platforms finally adopted the Universal Self-Regulation Code for Online Curated Content Providers in September, which included a framework for age classification and descriptions for content as well as tools like parental controls and complaints redressal. In November, the government had brought online films, digital news and current affairs content [under the purview of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry](. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had told The Hindu that the government's guidelines on the OTT platforms will be made public soon. It is not clear what the government's guidelines could be, but it is expected that the Programme Code that governs content on TV under the Cable Television Network Regulation Act, 1995 will be a template for it. With the code and the toolkit, the platforms have moved to close the gaps that may justify government intervention. However, considering the recent controversies over some programmes, it remains to be seen whether the government will be pacified by self-regulation or will push for tighter controls. This is what makes the story important. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Which of the following parties did not stage a walkout during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent speech in Lok Sabha? 1. Indian National Congress 2. Communist Party of India (Marxist) 3. All India Trinamool Congress 4. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( The Big Story [Uttarakhand avalanche | Rescue efforts resume in Tapovan dam tunnel]( [alt_text]( From the Front Page [alt_text]( [Coordinated disengagement at Pangong Tso: Rajnath Singh tells Rajya Sabha]( [alt_text]( [17 major OTT players adopt toolkit for regulation]( From the Opinion Pages [alt_text]( [The agonising cost of ham-handed development]( [alt_text]( [In Biden’s policy pursuit, the world order challenge]( Today's Editorials [Order at the border: On disengag](ement [Tender cut: On cryptocurrencies]( You are receiving this email because you are a user of [thehindu.com]( If you do not wish to receive any such emails, [unsubscribe here.](mailto:rm-0bfhmq86bf2f90kaup33rtbysa8hk2c@newsalert.thehindu.com?subject=Unsubscribe&body=You will be unsubscribed from our mailing list.) To ensure you continue to receive emails from The Hindu in your inbox, please add newsletters.th@newsalert.thehindu.com to your contact. If you can't see the mailer, please [click here.]( Group Sites [The Hindu]( | [இந்து தமிழ் திசை]( | [Business Line]( | [BL on Campus]( | [Sportstar]( | [Frontline]( | [The Hindu Centre]( | [Images]( | [roofandfloor]( | [Classifieds]( Copyright @ 2021 ,THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. [About Us]( | [Contact Us]( | [Digital Subscription](