Committed to creating a healthier media ecosystem

There was a demand for bringing such parity and mechanism by media experts, filmmakers and industry experts, trade organizations/ bodies, and the people at large. These apart, there have been serious grievances from parents and guardians over adult, violent and other content that is harmful to children. There is also a need to empower the citizens for their grievance redressal. Due to the absence of (Intermediary Guidelines and the Digital Media Ethics Code), institutional setup, citizens do not know where to send their grievances or file complaints or suggestions relating to content on OTT or on digital news. There was demand from all sectors that there must be some arrangement by which a level playing field can be provided to all the media categories. The Digital Media Ethics Code, under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 establishes an institutional mechanism for digital news portals and OTT platforms. The main features of the Rules establish a soft touch progressive institutional mechanism with a level playing field featuring a Code of Ethics and a three-tier grievance redressal framework for news publishers and OTT platforms on digital media. The OTT platforms would self-classify the content into five age-based categories- U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A (Adult).

Platforms would be required to implement parental locks for content classified as U/A 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification mechanisms for content classified as “A”. Publishers of news on digital media would be required to observe the Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation) Act thereby providing a level playing field between the offline (Print, TV) and digital media. Grievance Redressal Mechanism A three-level grievance redressal mechanism has been established under the rules with two levels of self-regulation- Level I being the publisher and Level II being the Self Regulatory Body, and the third level being the Oversight Mechanism under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The rules provide for an effective grievance redressal mechanism for receiving, processing, and time-bound disposal of public grievances related to the Code of Ethics. The self-regulatory body would be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court, or by a person of eminence from the relevant field, and can issue advisories to the publisher. The mechanism is based on the principles of minimum Government intervention; however, platforms should develop a robust grievance redressal mechanism on their own.

Digital Media News Standard Authority is a self-regulatory body under the digital media rules 2021. DMNSA shall perform functions laid down in sub-rules (4) and (5) of rule 12 for the purpose of redressing grievances related to the Code of Ethics under the Rules. Accordingly, we shall ensure that the member publishers agree to adhere to the provisions of the Rules, Including furnishing the requisite information 4 under rule 18 of the Rules.