Netflix, Hotstar, Jio Wants To Censor Their Own Content; Amazon, Youtube Doesn’t Want To Censor

As the popularity of on-demand content apps such as Netflix and Amazon Prime are increasing, unleashing a content revolution all around, the issue of censorship is also picking up, threatening its very existence.

Now, fresh reports are coming in, which suggests that the on-demand entertainment apps, also called OTTs or Over The Top players are divided on this issue.

Two camps have been created: One which is proposing to censor their own content, and the other which is opposing this censorship on web content.

What is the logic of each?

Logic #1: Self-Censorship Is The Future

The camp of Netflix, Hotstar, Zee, Times Internet, Eros and Alt Balaji have suggested that they will self-censor their content, and deal with it professionally.

The logic is that, if they don’t censor their own content, then Govt. will enter their industry, and impose regulations and censorship which will harm the overall industry.

Hence, instead of inviting Govt. to censor their content, they want to do it themselves.

Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is mediating in this matter, and representatives from these OTTs have already informed IAMAI about their decision.

If this happens, the shows like Sacred Games, Narcos and others can be censored and edited for India.

MX Player CEO Karan Bedi said, “The idea is to compile a set of industry best practices to enable OTT platforms to curate content responsibly and strike a balance between creativity and cultural responsibility,”

MX Player is part of Times Group, and they are supporting this logic of self-censorship.

Note here, that a case pertaining to censoring content on Netflix is already being heard after a petition was filed regarding the same.

Logic #2: No Censorship

Meanwhile Amazon and Google, which owns Youtube platform, are strictly against any form of censorship of content.

As per them, censorship, be it self-censorship even, will set a dangerous precedent of regulating content, and will harm the overall industry of on-demand entertainment.

Google and Amazon, both know that this trend of user-generated, uncensored content is the reason why on-demand entertainment became so huge and popular.

Changing this format will kill the whole concept.

Amazon and Google, both are supporting the format of user-generated flags and comments against any video, which is currently used to flag-down and remove a video.

Hence, if users are fine with any video, then no one else has any business to change that.

Youtube said, “Videos flagged by users that they believe violate our community guidelines are reviewed and removed from the system. We also follow all applicable laws and act promptly to remove an offending video once notified.”

Interestingly, both the models don’t take into consideration any views or opinions from the content creators and story-tellers.

Do you support the self-censorship model propagated by Netflix and Hotstar? Or user-generated content check by Google is fine?

Do let us know, by commenting right here!

Also Read: Netflix Censoring Content Is Fake News; But Amazon Prime Is Censoring Content Since 2016