The Uttar Pradesh government led by BJP’s Yogi Adityanath approved its new social media or digital media policy on Tuesday. The policy indicates the U.P-government’s attempt at creating a favorable environment for itself on popular social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter). As per the government, this policy aims at popularizing its schemes, projects and achievements among the general public and boost employment opportunities for UP citizens.
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What the Policy entails
This scheme will reportedly create employment opportunities by offering monetary gains to U.P citizens living in the state, outside the state or even outside the country.
The policy, prepared by the Information Department, seeks to offer financial incentives to influencers and social media account operators to promote the schemes and accomplishments of the Adityanath government. For this purpose, the government has created a budget of ₹8 lakh and curated a list of influencers who will be a part of this initiative of the government.
Depending on the reach, subscribers and followers influencers have, they will be added to one of four categories. Moreover, each influencer will be paid according to the type of content being created. The Cabinet has approved a monthly budget of ₹5 lakh for X operators, ₹3 lakh for Instagram influencers and ₹4 lakh for posts on Facebook.
YouTube has been awarded the highest budget; regular format videos will receive a maximum of ₹8 lakh, podcasts have been limited to ₹6 lakh, shorts have an incentive of ₹7 lakh or below, while other types of content on the Google giant will receive up to ₹4 lakh.
Punishment for defamatory content
The policy elucidates the guidelines to regulate content of the aforementioned social media platforms. While those posting in favor of the government schemes will be provided with monetary rewards, the government has also ensured the fate of those that post content defaming the government.
According to the rules laid down in the novel policy, people posting “anti-national” or “objectionable” content will be treated with stringency. They can receive a punishment ranging from 3 years of incarceration to life imprisonment.
Opposition slams the policy
Many people and political leaders have censured the policy. Ameeque Jamei- Samajwadi Party spokesperson criticized the policy by stating that this is an attempt at curbing the voices of dissent or of those who express any dissatisfaction with the government. “No influencer can save this government which is bound to go” [in the next elections], he said. He also added that the only benefactors of the employment opportunities created by this policy will be BJP supporters.
Congress leaders also rose against the policy saying that its objective is to “silence criticism”. U.P General Secretary of Congress Anil Yadav said that the government has taken this measure because it feels threatened by the independent social media platforms that have exposed the truth and challenged the “fake narrative” created by the BJP government in the last decade.
Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera went on platform X to express his concerns over the possible misuse of this policy and its implications for the freedom of speech. He questioned what kind of content is deemed “anti-national” or “objectionable” and whether anti- government will be treated as “anti- national” as well.
The policy has also garnered criticism from the general public and social media operators. Social media platform operator- Santosh Singh claimed that by offering a monetary incentive, the government wishes to create a propitious online environment for itself and use influencers as “cheer leaders” for its schemes and successes.
