India explores new legislation to regulate streaming content
India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is considering new laws to oversee streaming platforms, five years after courts challenged its previous regulatory framework.
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is in discussions regarding potential new legislation to regulate content on streaming platforms. Options under review include amending the Cinematograph Act of 1952 or the Information Technology Act of 2000, or the introduction of entirely new legislation. These moves follow years of legal uncertainty surrounding the government's authority to oversee digital media.
The proposed framework mirrors the structure of the IT Rules of 2021, featuring a three-tier system of self-regulation, grievance redressal, and government oversight. In 2021, the Bombay High Court stayed key provisions of the IT Rules, ruling that they were likely beyond the scope of existing IT legislation. By codifying these measures into primary law, the government aims to establish a firmer legal footing for its regulatory ambitions.
Government officials report that they have been receiving over 1,000 representations per month over the past six months demanding greater oversight. The complaints primarily target issues such as obscenity and vulgarity. Previous attempts to formalize control, such as the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, were withdrawn following significant public and industry backlash.
While the government maintains that self-regulation should remain the first line of defense, it seeks to reserve the power for ministerial intervention. As of late 2026, no official drafts of the potential new law have been made public, and the status of ongoing litigation continues to influence the government's regulatory strategy.