After the ‘fake news’ directive, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has struck again by setting up a committee to formulate norms aimed at regulating online media.
In a circular dated 4 April, the ministry announced that the constitution of a committee that will frame regulations for online media, news portals, and online content. The committee comprises of officials and bureaucrats from the I&B Ministry, National Broadcasting Association, the Press Council of India, and the Indian Broadcasters Federation, among others.
The committee will look to suggest a framework on the lines of those already governing broadcast and print media.
An official from the ministry told Economic Times that at the meeting held by the committee, it was noted that the code of conduct governing print and broadcast media could not apply to online media.
“The set of regulations has to come out first, after which the code of conduct for online news portals can be worked out. The committee is basically looking at how to go about it.”
The official also told ET that the the I&B Ministry was clear that it would only create norms for news and infotainment, while other parts of digital media would fall under the IT Ministry.
According to the official, the ministry will also look at how ‘certain messages were inciting protests and tension in border areas,’ thereby posing a security risk.
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