The Digipub News India Foundation, representing over 90 digital news media organisations, commentators, and journalists across India, has reached out to Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw and sought a meeting to address concerns and propose suggestions about the evolving digital news landscape.
The Broadcast Regulation Bill 2023, now under consultation, has sparked unease among content creators. Recent media reports suggest the bill might classify regular social media posters, podcast producers, and video creators on current affairs as digital news broadcasters.
The foundation has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for a copy of the bill, noting that it has been shared with some news media organisations but not all stakeholders.
In its letter to the minister, the foundation said, “We kindly request a copy of the bill and a convenient time for the meeting. We look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions to foster a healthy and robust news ecosystem in India.”
According to the bill, the definition of news and current affairs programmes will now include text, expanding beyond just audio and visual content. Reports also suggest the bill might impose compliance requirements for broadcasters and network operators concerning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies and disaster management regulations. The government may also introduce separate guidelines for social media platforms and online advertising intermediaries.
The draft Broadcast Services (Regulation) Bill 2023, introduced last year, aims to regulate the broadcasting sector, including streaming services. Stakeholders were asked to collect their unique copies of the second draft from Shastri Bhawan, with a non-disclosure agreement attached to prevent distribution. Each copy carries a specific watermark to help the MIB trace any leaks.
This process has led to concerns among content creators, many of whom are voicing their objections on social media with the hashtag #Stopthebroadcastbill.
Under the proposed bill, YouTubers, Instagrammers, and potentially TikTok creators with a significant following will be required to notify the Indian government of their presence within a month of the bill’s enactment. They will also need to establish a content evaluation committee at their own expense, which must review all content prior to publication. Social media companies failing to disclose user information to the government will face criminal penalties.
