Filmmaker Hansal Mehta is someone who is quite active on social media and he voices his opinions on political and social issues more often on Twitter. He has now criticised the new rule that requires OTT platforms to insert a smoking or tobacco products disclaimer. He sarcastically called it a 'progressive decision'.
On Wednesday, Hansal took to his micro-blogging site Twitter and wrote, “Yes. The only reason tobacco products and smoking kill is our shows/films. By putting these tickers we will have healthy people who don’t smoke. Very progressive decision.”
The 'Scoop' director tweeted in response to a line in the report that read: "OTT Platforms to go the way of cinemas! Tobacco warning to be compulsory on platforms such as @NetflixIndia @PrimeVideoIN @DisneyPlusHS @SonyLIV @ZEE5India @JioCinema and others".
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For the unversed, as per a report by news agency, PTI, on Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha was informed that the government has made it mandatory that OTT platforms should display a conspicuous static anti-tobacco health warning at the bottom of the screen whenever a tobacco product is displayed or utilised in a programme,
As per the revised regulations, the anti-tobacco health ads have to be displayed for a minimum of 30 seconds at the beginning and middle of each broadcast that features tobacco products or their use.
Also, they must play an audio-visual warning about the negative effects of tobacco for at least 20 seconds at the start and middle of the programme.
