iWorld
Indian government wants streamers to develop a social conscience
MUMBAI: Most creators have been singing hosannas about how streaming platforms have allowed them to express themselves freely. But how freely? That’s a question that the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) is posing. Especially in light of its observation that “certain streaming content available on OTT platforms is inadvertently promoting, glamorising or glorifying the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through such portrayal by the main protagonist and other actors. Such a portrayal has serious repercussion, particularly regarding the potential influence on young and impressionable viewers.”
In advisory to the industry, the MIB has advised OTTs to stop portraying drug use or abuse as fashionable or acceptable to society especially when it is part of the narrative of a series or film. And it has also cautioned them that should the streamer or content creator choose to portray misuse of psychotropic substances, liquor, smoking, tobacco or any behavior that is likely to incite the commission of any offence, including infliction of self-harm, and that children and young people may potentially copy, then they should place the film or series in a higher classification of self-certification.
The ministry has directed the platforms to put in place measures like carrying public health messages and disclaimers about the dangers of drug abuse, especially in programs in which it is part of the story line. Then it has requested them to arouse their corporate social responsibility conscience and make and popularise content and documentaries which highlight how substance abuse is health-harming in the long term. Accepting that OTT content is beginning to impact public opinion and behaviour, it has reminded them of their social responsibility and how their content helps shape culture and society.
The advisory also warns that in case they find any streamer crossing the red line, strict regulatory scrutiny will follow under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 read with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. And if evidence is found conclusive, then strict penalties will apply.
Are the writers and creators and commissioning editors in streaming platforms listening? As well as the standards and practices guys?
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
