Despite the current administration’s laudatory measures towards realizing the dream of a Digital Bangladesh, at a policy level -- especially in matters of digital security -- it has not displayed the same level of foresight as it has in its development.
Case in point, the new draft law that would see OTT platforms and social media all be brought under blanket regulation. If existing laws such as the draconian Digital Security Act and the also drafted Data Protection Plan are any indicators, things do not bode well for our budding OTT industry if the draft passes.
To that end, a recent webinar hosted by Dhaka Tribune saw experts in the field from around Bangladesh and beyond come together to discuss exactly how badly lumping OTT platforms in this draft stands to impact this industry.
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As an industry that deals in creativity, the only regulation it requires is to adhere to the guidelines of the censor board, otherwise, self-regulation is the globally-recognized standard procedure in this industry.
Given that it is an online-based medium, standard broadcasting rules and regulations do not apply, which has been the primary reason behind the success of streaming services such as Netflix internationally. If Bangladeshi filmmakers and artists are to be able to aspire for similar levels of success, it stands to reason that the industry should not be subjected to the kind of stringent and stifling regulations which have kept our broadcast industry from reaching its true potential.
The draft of the regulation was published by the BTRC on its website earlier this year for opinions from the public and organizational stakeholders. We hope the administration takes all of the feedback into cognizance and considers a complete overhaul of the draft as it stands. If that is not possible, the only way forward would be to scrap it entirely.