نبذة مختصرة : Regulating content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, social media, and digital space has become a priority for many countries worldwide, including Bangladesh. In response, the 'Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms, 2021' was first released on February 3, 2022, and later submitted to the High Court on October 19, 2022, following standard procedure. As a crucial stakeholder group, legal studies students possess expert knowledge of the legal framework and have the potential to shape the implementation of this law as future legal professionals. However, the knowledge and perception of this group regarding the draft law remain largely unexplored, despite their potential to significantly contribute to the effectiveness of the law. Therefore, this cross-sectional exploratory study aims to investigate the knowledge and perception of 203 legal studies students from the University of Rajshahi and Varendra University in Bangladesh, through a self-reported online survey conducted on December 2022. The study found that while 58% of participants believe a dedicated law is necessary for regulating OTT platform content, 69% were not aware of the newly drafted law. Additionally, over 60% of participants believed the law could pose a barrier to creative freedom, while almost half believed it could be misused. Despite Netflix and Hoichoi being the most viewed platforms among the participants, around 90% felt that Ullu would be the most affected OTT platform by the new law, despite having only 10% viewership. The study's findings suggest that the law needs to balance creative freedom with regulation while providing safeguards against potential misuse. Furthermore, this study provides insights into the perception of a key demographic group of this law, which could inform future policymaking and regulation of OTT platforms in Bangladesh.
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