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Regulation of Online streaming contents out of the purview of Cinematographic Act : HC
On Wednesday, the Karnataka High Court rejected the plea in a PIL to regulate the contents such as movies, serials etc. streaming on online platforms like youtube, Hotstar, Netflix etc under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The petition was filed by Padmanabh Shankar,a senior citizen and a resident of Bengaluru.
The petition was heard by the division bench presided by Chief Abhay Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz. It stated, “Going by the concept of internet and its operation, the act of exhibition of films, serials and other content perhaps amounts to transfer of files based on requests by users, and hence it is not possible to accept the transfer of files or films, serials through the internet comes under the purview of Cinematograph Act”.
The petitioner had raised the concern through the petition of children being adversely influenced on account of the transmission of unregulated content vis nternet. The petitioner prayed before the Court to direct such multimedia made available on various internet platforms to seek certification under the Cinematographic Act, 1952, until such relevant legislation is passed. At present, there is no specific act to deal with this matter.
The bench is hopeful that in the public interest the union government will come out with a solution in this concern, if the petitioner makes a representation of the same matter.
