Former UK Minister Questions India’s OTT Regulation

With the number of series coming onto OTT platforms, the government is creating plans to regulate them, which can lead to several repercussions. As of now, the matter is only in talks, but it is already gaining international attention. India’s regulatory system is known to be an ideal example of how a country’s internet regulation should work, and implementing unnecessary restrictions may harm creativity among content creators. Former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK and currently the President for Global Affairs seems to be concerned about this issue. He says that passing legislation to disable an app is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Instead of over-regulating, all we need to do is build certain principles that can stand the test of time. Clegg emphasizes the global data fragmentation that has already occurred and is hopeful for a country like India. However, he questions India’s policy of disabling apps, which, according to him, is not a very intelligent idea. According to him, treating a telecom app like WhatsApp and an OTT service with the same approach is like mixing apples and pears.

Along with these concerns, he also advocates for a fact-checker regulatory body to identify misinformation and address the risks of AI in the future. The regulation of AI usage still seems to be a futuristic debate where, although we acknowledge the importance of AI tools, we fear their long-term consequences. Though Clegg’s concerns seem genuine, there are stark differences between the cultures of India and the UK. How can he be so damn sure of what will work in India and what won’t? What are your opinions?