India makes tobacco warnings mandatory for streaming sites

Godfrey Phillips India

31/05/2023 14:49

By Biplob Kumar  Das and Aditya Kalra
       BENGALURU/NEW DELHI, May 31 (Reuters) - India unveiled
guidelines on Wednesday requiring streaming platforms such as
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to display prominent warnings
about smoking and other forms of tobacco use while airing shows
with such scenes.
    While film and television certification bodies already
moderate public content in India, its laws have few provisions
to censor content on popular online platforms. 
    The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Amendment Rules,
2023 made it mandatory for such platforms to display
"anti-tobacco health spots" of at least 30 seconds each at the
start and middle of a programme, a notice from the health
ministry showed.
    The new rules also made it compulsory for the platforms to
display an anti-tobacco health warning as a "static message" at
the bottom of the screen while displaying tobacco products on
screen. It also mandated audio-visual disclaimers about the
ill-effects of tobacco use.
    The stringent laws come after a survey by the World Health
Organization found that nearly 267 million Indians of age 15 and
above consume tobacco. 
    "India's new regulations will ensure that streaming services
are not the next vehicle for Big Tobacco's aggressive targeting
of Indian youth," said Yolonda Richardson, an executive from
non-profit group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. 
    The amendment further states that the federal government
will take suo moto action against streaming sites if they fail
to adhere to the new rules. 
    Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and trade group Internet &
Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), which represents the
interests of several streaming websites, did not immediately
respond to Reuters' request for comment.
    The tough rules come years after court cases and complaints
filed to the police alleged that some content on streaming
platforms was obscene or insulted religious sentiment. 

 (Reporting by Biplob Kumar Das in Bengaluru and Aditya Kalra in
New Delhi; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
 ((Biplobkumar.das@thomsonreuters.com; 9101861583;))