Mumbai: Publishers of online curated content have successfully implemented the three-tiered redressal mechanism for addressing grievances regarding violations of the Digital Media Code of Ethics as set forth by the IT Rules 2021, said former Supreme Court justice Arjan Kumar Sikri. "No case has gone to tier-3 so far for Digital Media Ethics Code violation,” he noted.
Sikri was addressing the Pixels conference organised by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). He chairs IAMAI’s grievance redressal board formed as a part of the digital publisher content grievances council (DPCGC).
“All complaints directly addressed to MIB/Inter-departmental Committee (level-3) should be pushed by the committee to be addressed by the platform (level-1) and then by the self-regulating body (level-2) before being taken by level-3. The exercise of adjudicatory powers by the executive branch of the Government, if not done judiciously, will jeopardize the freedom of digital entertainment in India,” he said.
He further stated that the main concern of the industry is protecting intellectual rights in the digital entertainment space as well as addressing questions about data privacy. He added that ultimately when these issues come to regulators or courts, it is to be examined from the prism of – democracy, dissent, and the Constitution of India which guarantees freedom of speech under Article 19 (1) (a). He emphasized the need for an equilibrium between all the stakeholders, with minimal governmental control and maximum self-regulation to seamlessly regulate emerging sectors.
The conference was also addressed by the Government of Telangana principal secretary for the industries and commerce department and information technology, electronics, and communications department Jayesh Ranjan.
He stated that the Telangana government is looking to strengthen infrastructure for the sector. “We are setting up a facility of 1.4 million square feet in Hyderabad called image tower, which would be a hub of animation and VFX. We are confident that once the image tower is up and running this would be the new face of Hyderabad,” Sikri said.
