The Editors Guild of India, the editors’ apex body across the country, has raised its concern in the backdrop of the Centre’s notification of the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, dated February 25. The rule seeks to regulate social media and OTT platforms besides digital news content.
The Editors Guild of India on Monday said it had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad to put on hold the implementation of the new rules to regulate digital media till the government “consults all stakeholders” in the matter. The March 6 letter written to the PM and the two Union ministers urged the rules be revoked
1/3- The Editors Guild of India's letter to the Honorable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, Honorable Minister of @MIB_India, @PrakashJavdekar & @GoI_MeitY, @OfficeOfRSP regarding the new Information Technology rules notified on Feb 25th, 2021.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/YgQ9ia8Stk
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) March 22, 2021
2/3- The Editors Guild of India's letter to the Honorable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, Honorable Minister of @MIB_India, @PrakashJavdekar & @GoI_MeitY, @OfficeOfRSP regarding the new Information Technology rules notified on Feb 25th, 2021.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/X27gh7RjZP
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) March 22, 2021
3/3- The Editors Guild of India's letter to the Honorable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, Honorable Minister of @MIB_India, @PrakashJavdekar & @GoI_MeitY, @OfficeOfRSP regarding the new Information Technology rules notified on Feb 25th, 2021.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/E3W4oj0URh
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) March 22, 2021
“The most alarming aspect of these rules is the cumbersome three-tier structure to regulate digital media, with an “Inter-Departmental Committee” at the top, and excessive powers being given to a government officer to block, modify and delete content. Various other provisions in these rules can place unreasonable restrictions on digital news media, and consequently, media at large. These rules have been brought in without due consultation with the stakeholders and deepen the worry that freedom of the press in India is being seriously compromised”, stated the Editors Guild of India letter dated March 6, 2021, to the Prime Minister.
