Amid criticism of the new broadcasting bill 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) withdrew the draft and is expected to revise provisions
On August 12, many stakeholders received calls from the government asking them to return physical copies of the controversial Broadcasting Services (control Bill), 2024, which proposed bringing social media creators under broadcast control.
This comes after several supposed provisions of the law sparked concern among digital creators, who said it sought to group them with OTT or digital news broadcasters.
According to a statement made by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting it is conducting a series of consultations with stakeholders on a draft bill after receiving several recommendations/comments/suggestions from various groups.
“Ministry is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders on the draft bill,” it said in a post on X. “Further additional time is being provided to solicit comments/ suggestions till 15th October, 2024”. A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations.
What was the draft of the new broadcasting bill which sparked criticism?
The draft was circulated as part of an ongoing consultation process that began in November 2023, when the ministry initially made the draft version available for public comment.
The proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation), which first introduced last year, has sparked controversy and received strong resistance. The topic has received a lot of attention on social media, especially because there are concerns that Instagram influencers and YouTubers would be subject to the new regulations. The issue was also highlighted in parliament.
Opposition leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the law, accusing the government of trying to “gag” digital media and OTT services.
Criticism by digital media entities
The proposal has garnered criticism since it seeks to control streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar, and other OTT platforms. DigiPub and the Editors Guild of India have criticized the government for failing to consult digital media entities and civil society groups on the new draft bill.
What the bill says
As reported by the Hindustan Times, the bill, drafted by the MIB, has three additional flaws: (a) it categorises OTT streaming services alongside TV broadcasting, an exceptional measure globally that may allow the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to intervene in digital commerce; (b) it brings users posting news and contemporary affairs on social media within its purview, meaning a committee could judge posts from users with large followings, (c) it criminalises certain offences, contradicting the government’s commitment to reverse this trend in commercial laws.
