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Tag: Digital Media Rules

  • Eye on new digital media rules, Digipub sets up content review committee

    Eye on new digital media rules, Digipub sets up content review committee

    NEW DELHI: Digipub, an association of Indian digital news media publishers, has set up an independent, high-level ombudsman content review committee whose task will include the review of published contents. 

    The association, in a recently issued press release, revealed that some of its members already have an independent internal mechanism for review, while others are in the process of formulating them. The new content review committee is aimed at providing ''an additional voluntary layer of transparency on the part of member publications."

    The independent content review committee set up by Digipub comprises retired Supreme Court justice Madan B Lokur, Prajnya Trust founder and director Swarna Rajagopalan, Safai Karamchari Andolan founder Bezwada Wilson; and Prasar Bharati ex-CEO & former secretary of the ministry of culture, Jawhar Sircar. 

    "As is evident, the independent committee we have established consists of individuals with an unimpeachable record and accomplishments in the fields of law, rights, gender and public administration," said Digipub. 

    The association also added that an independent content review committee is very much essential to uphold their commitment towards professional media ethics. The committee will also help readers to get in touch with Digipub if they have bona fide objections to any particular published content. 

     

     

    "Digipub is in the process of working out the modalities of the committee’s functioning and work, including an appropriate and practical referral system, and will make those public in due course," read the statement. 

    Referring to the new IT Rules 2021, Digipub stated that any attempt by the government to regulate the content of news portals or publications will not only strike at the constitutional scheme but at democracy itself. 

    The Digipub News India Foundation consists of eleven digital news organisations; namely, Alt News, Article 14, Boomlive, Cobrapost, HW News, Newsclick, Newslaundry, The News Minute, Scroll.in, The Quint and The Wire.

  • Editors Guild appeals to PM to revoke new digital media rules

    Editors Guild appeals to PM to revoke new digital media rules

    NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s urgent intervention in revoking the new rules for digital media, saying that the guidelines would be "adverse to the freedom of press" in the country.

    In a letter dated 6 March addressed to the PM and union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad, the association has urged the government to hold off on the implementation of the new rules till the Centre “consults all stakeholders” in the matter.

    "We are conscious of the challenges posed by the digital age, and as such, we recognise the need for self-regulation of digital news media. However, we have grave concerns regarding the rules, which can fundamentally alter how news publishers operate over the Internet and undermine the freedom of the press in the country," the EGI wrote in the letter.

    On 25 February, the Centre introduced the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 that seek to regulate social media, OTT platforms, and digital news content for the first time. According to the new rules, digital news media and online video streaming services must adhere to the code of ethics under the rules which will be enforced by a three-tier regulatory mechanism.

    However, the EGI has taken exception to the three-tier structure, stating that it allots "excessive powers" to government officials to block, modify and delete content.

    “Various other provisions in these rules can place unreasonable restrictions on digital news media, and consequently media at large. These rules have been brought in without due consultation with the stakeholders and deepen the worry that freedom of press in India is being seriously compromised,” it added.

    The guild also raised concerns that the absolute decision-making power conferred upon the executive through these new rules will inhibit digital news media and thereby press at large from fulfilling its obligations as the fourth estate.

    Moreover, it cited the clause that anyone can file a grievance and the publisher will have to respond within 15 days of receiving it; compelling publishers to respond to each and every complainant within a period as short as 15 days is "onerous".

    "This again will be adverse to press freedom. The rules should have been accompanied by a form containing the details which the complainant should be obligated to furnish, to lodge a complaint. As of now, the publishers may have to spend resources to respond to incomplete, ill-intentioned and even anonymous complaints," it said.

    The association went on to claim that the new guidelines were announced and notified on the same day and the Union government did not consult any stakeholders, including EGI, in the drafting of the rules.

    "The Guild urges the ministry to withdraw such an onerous and regressive regulatory mechanism, and to initiate consultations for putting in place a more equitable self-regulatory system," the letter read.

  • Parliamentary panel questions legality of new digital media rules

    Parliamentary panel questions legality of new digital media rules

    KOLKATA: The parliamentary standing committee on information and technology grilled officials from the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) and the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY) on the new rules for monitoring over-the-top (OTT) platforms, digital media and social media intermediaries.

    The parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the legality of the new regulatory framework, according to media reports.

    Several questions on framing the guidelines were raised – whether industry stakeholders were consulted before framing the guidelines, if opinions were taken from intellectual people, civic society, and the judiciary. Another key point flagged was whether the rules are in conformity with the existing framework. 

    In their deposition, ministry officials have assured the panel that due process was followed before the new rules were introduced. They justified the need for such rules in changing times and also explained the rationale behind them.

    Earlier in a meeting, the panel told MIB officials that it hoped the ministry would implement the rules with due regard to the importance of promoting creativity and protecting freedom of expression while maintaining a robust oversight mechanism.

    On 25 February, the Centre notified an expansive framework to govern online content, titled Information Technology (Guidelines for intermediaries and digital media ethics code) Rules 2021. It gave online content providers between 30 to 90 days to comply with the same. Under the new guidelines, a three-tier oversight mechanism for online content has been put in place.

  • Prakash Javadekar meets with Digital News Publishers Association

    Prakash Javadekar meets with Digital News Publishers Association

    KOLKATA: Information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday held a meeting with the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) to discuss new rules for digital media.

    “In a follow up to meeting with OTT platforms, held an interaction with Digital News Publishers Association today. Discussed new rules for digital media. They welcomed the new rules and offered few suggestions which I have noted (sic),” the minister tweeted.

    According to an official statement released post the interaction, Javadekar informed the association that the new rules placed certain responsibilities on digital news publishers. These include adherence to Code of Ethics such as the norms of journalistic conduct framed by the Press Council of India and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Network Act. Further, to redress grievances of citizens the rules have provided for a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism of which the first and second tier would be of the digital news publishers and self-regulatory bodies constituted by them. 

    Digital news publishers would also be required to furnish some basic information to the ministry of information and broadcasting in a simple form which is being finalised and periodically they would be required to place in public domain the grievance redressal undertaken by them, the statement added.

    Javadekar said that print media and TV channels have digital versions whose content is almost the same as that on the traditional platforms. However, there are contents which appear exclusively on the digital platform. Apart from this, there are several entities which are only on the digital platform. Accordingly, the rules seek to cover the news on digital media so as to bring them at par with the traditional media.

    The participants, while welcoming the new rules, stated that TV and news print media have been following the laid down norms of the Cable Television Network Act and the Press Council Act for a very long time. Moreover, for publishing the digital versions of their publications, the publishers do follow the existing norms of the traditional platforms. They felt that they should be treated differently than those news publishers who are only on the digital platform.

    Javadekar thanked the participants for expressing their views and stated that the government will take note of the same and continue with this consultative process for overall growth of the media industry.