A number of international streamers -- including Netflix, Amazon, and Disney

 

A number of international streamers -- including Netflix, Amazon, and Disney -- have discussed a potential legal challenge to the Indian government's new regulations regarding smoking in shows and films.  The streaming platforms are concerned that they'd need to edit millions of hours of existing content to comply with the new rules. The Indian health ministry this week announced strict new guidelines for depicting smoking or tobacco use in streaming shows and films, requiring PSAs and other disclaimers to appear on screen at the start of programs in which tobacco products are used. The streamers apparently also met with executives from India's Viacom18, which runs the country's popular JioCinema app. Among the legal options could be a direct challenge to the health ministry's power to enforce these rules; traditionally, India's IT and Broadcasting agencies would oversee streaming platforms. India is the world's second-largest producer of tobacco; according to Reuters, tobacco-related health conditions kill 1.3 million Indians each year.