Medianama files RTI seeking Prasar Bharati's IT Rules compliance reports for Waves OTT

Indian tech publication Medianama has filed two Right to Information (RTI) requests seeking monthly grievance compliance reports for Prasar Bharati's Waves OTT platform. The reports, required under India's IT Rules, were not found publicly available on the platform's website.

Rule 18(3) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, mandates that all publishers of online curated content, including government-owned platforms, must publish these monthly reports. Medianama noted that while major platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video comply, there is no public record for Waves OTT.

The RTI requests have been submitted to both Prasar Bharati and India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. They seek copies of the required grievance reports and any correspondence or guidelines related to compliance with the reporting obligations. Medianama emphasizes that government-owned platforms should adhere to the highest standards of public accountability.

Medianama intends to publish further details upon receiving responses from Prasar Bharati or the Ministry. The lack of these reports could lead to Prasar Bharati being asked to either provide the existing reports or explain its non-compliance with the IT Rules.