Few OTT platforms show pornographic content at times, says Supreme Court

There should be a mechanism to screen such programmes, the apex court said

The Supreme Court on Thursday favoured some screening of web series and OTT (Over The Top) platforms, saying in some cases even pornography was being shown over there.

The top court asked the Centre to place before it on Friday the regulations passed on February 25 for the OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

"We want to see the regulations because we are of the view that there should be some screening of these types of films/shows... What are they showing? They are showing pornography in some films. There should be some regulations. Balance has to be maintained," a bench presided over by Justice Bhushan said.

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre told the court that these platforms are showing filthy things with abuses too.

The court was hearing an appeal of commercial head of Amazon Prime Video, Aparna Purohit, against the Allahabad High Court order of February 25 that rejected her anticipatory bail plea, in the ongoing investigation against the web series 'Tandav'.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Purohit, contended that regulations have come and Allahabad High Court order was not based on OTT regulations, but is related to freedom of speech and expression.

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He said Purohit was just an employee of Amazon and not the producer. Only publicity seekers were filing cases all over the country, he said.

The High Court in its order has noted that "people make the revered figures of the religion of majority community source of earning money in most brazen manner taking benefit of the liberal and tolerant tradition of country."

The High Court said the applicant's conduct showed scant respect for the law of the land and her conduct disentitled her to any relief.

Earlier on January 27, the Supreme Court had refused to grant interim protection from arrest to actor and makers of web series ‘Tandav’ and allowed them to approach high courts for relief from arrest or quashing of FIRs.