KOLKATA: The meteoric rise of digital media has put high focus on how online content will be regulated. Until now there were no particular guidelines to regulate the exhibition of online content, even though talks have been going on for a long time. Now, the government has brought online news platforms and content providers under the ambit of the ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB).

The latest gazette notification issued by the Prakash Javadekar-headed ministry stated that films and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers, as well as news and current affairs content on online platforms will come under MIB’s purview.

Earlier this year, MIB secretary Amit Khare said at FICCI e-Frames that the ministry is proposing to take over jurisdiction on online content regulation from the ministry of electronics & information technology.

“OTT being a digital platform will fall under the purview of the ministry of IT. We are proposing a decision that content should fall under purview of I&B. Convergence of ministries is extremely necessary,” Khare had remarked.

Amid intense pressure from the government, Internet and Mobile Association of India( IAMAI) also tried to push a self-regulatory model for online content curators. About 15 OTT players operating in the country came together to sign a code, but this was later disapproved by MIB. The ministry asked IAMAI to look at other models.