Online News Portals Put Under Content Regulation

By: WE Staff | Friday, 26 February 2021

The Central Government notified the IT rules 2021 to regulate the functioning of online media portals and publishers, OTT platforms and social media intermediaries.

Broadening the definition of digital media, the Central Government has now included online news in its ambit. A three tier grievance redressal system has also been put in place that will have the oversight of the Information & Broadcasting ministry.

According to the Press Information Bureau, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting held consultations in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai over the last one and half years wherein OTT players have been urged to develop “self-regulatory mechanism”.

The government referred to models of other countries such as Singapore, Australia, EU and UK before charting out the new guidelines. Most of these nations have an institutional mechanism to regulate digital content.

Going forward, online news portals and websites will be have to follow the same regulations that are followed by traditional media publishers.

It was informed that the self-regulatory body will be headed by a retired judge. The oversight committee will address complains that are not addressed by the self-regulatory body. Additionally, an Inter-departmental Committee will be set up for hearing grievances. It was also informed that the I&B ministry will formulate an oversight mechanisms and publish the charter for the self-regulating bodies.