In the last week of July, media reports highlighted a new, unpublished draft of the regulation for the domestic broadcasting industry. Called the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, the legislation seeks to establish control over unregulated news distribution sources. This factor has since raised considerable furore and voices across the internet.
The crux of the story here is that the Bill has put the onus on individuals to be treated as broadcasters if they use their online presence to disseminate news content. This, in turn, makes it the first time that the Centre is seemingly set to interfere with social media stakeholders, including individuals and news personalities using social media accounts on platforms such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. They could now be held accountable for not complying with the requisite regulations of being a publisher.
Policymakers and regulators have since spoken about the impact of such a Bill, stating that this law could, for the very first time, establish a situation wherein an individual and a corporate entity overlap regarding how they comply with regulations and the quantum of fines that apply to them.
ISSUES AND CONCERNS
Media reports on the Bill have claimed that the new draft brings individuals under its definition-a factor that could have serious repercussions. Reports claim that any content related to news and current affairs published by an individual "systematically" over text, audio, visual or a combination of any of these formats will be liable to be defined as "digital news broadcasters".
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Businesses in a quandary as India battles mobile spam
TRAI's new SMS regulations target spam but could disrupt legitimate business communications, while OTT platforms like WhatsApp remain difficult to regulate
Coca-Cola cloud brings a golden harvest for Infosys
Infosys is set to significantly benefit from Coca-Cola and Microsoft's cloud alliance, highlighting India's pivotal role in enabling digital transformation worldwide
India's cosmic odyssey: Reaching for the Moon and beyond
India's space ambitions extend beyond Chandrayaan-3, with plans for lunar sample returns, a national space station, and cutting-edge launch vehicles
SMEs scale new heights with cloud
Cloud technology empowers Indian SMEs in BFSI with scalability, innovation, and security, enabling them to compete with larger firms and drive growth
Not a chip off the same block
eSIMs are reshaping connectivity with seamless switching, enhanced security, and loT integration while navigating challenges in adoption and regulation
Powering 'Tech Olympics' in Paris
How the Paris 2024 Olympics redefined global sports, blending Al, 5G, and digital twins to set new standards and pave the way for the future of sporting events
"5G has consistently influenced complementary technologies"
With over 34 years of experience in the IT services industry, Dinesh Rao currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Co-Head - Delivery at Infosys.
"AI applications and hybrid work models are drivers of SASE adoption"
With extensive experience in leading product management for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SDWAN), and Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions across various enterprises, Andrew Winney currently serves as the General Manager and Global Head of SASE Business at Tata Communications.
TELECOM'S GREEN SIGNAL FOR GROWTH
As technology leads India's sustainable transition, innovations like 5G and green energy are paving the way for inclusive growth and environmental stewardship
The BIG Leap
As Indian enterprises embrace 5G, they are driving innovation, unlocking new possibilities, and paving the way for the next industrial revolution