Netflix, Prime, 8 others join IAMAI’s grievance panel

NEW DELHI: Ten video streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ALTBalaji and MX Player, have agreed to join the Digital Publishers Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), to comply with the government’s order to set up a complaints redressal mechanism for content. The DPCGC was recently created by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

The announcement comes a day after the broadcaster-led streaming platforms joined the Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), formerly Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the apex body for broadcasters. The IBDF will expand its purview to cover digital platforms, including OTT (over-the-top) streaming firms under one roof.

IBDF said it will form a self-regulatory body, as per the IT rules, the Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC), for OTT platforms, which is a second-tier complaints mechanism.

After the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, came into effect the IAMAI is establishing the DPCGC as a level-II self-regulatory body for publishers of online curated content (OCC), it said in a statement on Friday.

The grievance council will have a panel comprising OCC publishers as members, besides an independent grievance redressal board, comprising a chairperson and six members.

The board will be chaired by a retired Supreme Court or high court judge, and eminent people from the media and entertainment industry, experts from various fields including child rights, minority rights and media law will be the other members, IAMAI added.

The board will oversee and ensure adherence to the code of ethics by content creators, provide guidance to entities, address grievances which have not been resolved by the publisher within 15 days, and hear grievances or appeals filed by complainant(s).

“IAMAI and members of the DPCGC are deeply committed to protecting consumer rights and empowering consumers with the right tools to make informed decisions, and have their grievances addressed. The formation of this body is an important step towards consumer choice, as more and more people are viewing content online,” Subho Ray, president, IAMAI, said in a statement on Friday.