New Delhi : Stung by Youtubers who allegedly unleashed unsubstantiated facts and unwelcoming perception against the government, the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill has reportedly had changes affecting these news influencers. Such broadcasters will now be regulated and changes in the broadcaster bill were allegedly made secretly.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) decried “secret” changes to the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, which expands the regulatory framework on online news and entertainment media. It is alleged that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) invited selective industry representatives ignoring representation from civil society, journalists and other key stakeholders. The IFF expressed concerns from civil society that the Bill would lead to further censorship implications for online platforms. It is an attempt to replace the decades-old Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Streaming services are required in this version to constitute “content evaluation committees” to pre-screen content before it is released on their platforms. The Bill also provides for the constitution of a Broadcast Advisory Council, with government membership, that would hear complaints against broadcasters. These requirements could be applied to streaming platforms and online influencers with a simple notification issued by the I&B Ministry.
“Regulatory ambit will be required to comply with a Code prescribed by the Union government, and failure to do so … will lead to monetary penalties or even imprisonment,” the IFF said. The Centre has expressed its concern on the impact of those it calls “negative influencers”. In a 2021, Group of Ministers report on government communications some negative influencers give false narratives and discredited the Government and that these need to be constantly tracked so that proper and timely response can be given.