This article details the Indian government's efforts to control the online news space, highlighting several key pieces of legislation and their potential impact on press freedom. The rise of independent YouTubers and digital platforms, offering alternative perspectives to mainstream media, is contrasted with the government's actions.
This bill expands regulatory oversight over OTT platforms and digital content, including individual YouTubers. Concerns include vague definitions in the Programme Code, excessive delegation of power to the Central Government, and a three-tier regulatory framework potentially biased in favor of the government. The article highlights potential conflicts of interest within the Broadcast Advisory Council.
The bill's powers, including inspection without notice, seizure of equipment, and penalties, may lead to self-censorship among smaller digital news organizations.
The article notes that the three-tier regulatory mechanism in the Broadcasting Services Bill mirrors the framework of the 2021 IT Rules. Bombay and Madras High Courts stayed the enforcement of certain provisions due to their chilling effect on free speech.
The government's establishment of an FCU to declare news as fake raises concerns. The Bombay High Court issued a split verdict, and the Supreme Court stayed the FCU's notification, highlighting the potential for abuse of power.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 amended the RTI Act, removing the provision for disclosing personal information in the public interest. This has been criticized as hindering journalists' ability to uncover crucial information.
The article concludes that the Indian government's actions represent a significant threat to press freedom. The cumulative effect of these legislative actions, along with instances of retributive actions against critical media, is causing a decline in India's press freedom ranking. This raises concerns about potential long-term consequences for democracy.