Make policy to control OTT platform: HC

The High Court (HC) has asked the authority concern to make a policy to prevent indecency on the over-the-top (OTT) platform like Hoichoi, Netflix, Amazon and Bongobd and to collect revenue from the neo media.

The court asked the chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the secretary of the Information Ministry to prepare a draft policy and submit it to the apex court within three months.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order on Monday (January 18).

Advocate Md Tanvir Ahmed moved for the writ petition in the court.

He said, “As per previous directions, two reports have been submitted in the court today by the BTRC chairman and the Cyber Police Center.”

According to the BTRC report, no revenue is collected in Bangladesh from OTT platform like Hoichoi, Netflix, Amazon, Bongobd. Revenue is not being collected as there is no regulation.

According to the Cyber Police Center report, although there are digital security laws and pornography laws, there are no specific policies to prevent indecency on the OTT platform. As a result, not all measures can be taken all the time. If any policy is enacted, it will be convenient to control it.