New Delhi: Over a hundred journalists and professionals in the online media wrote to Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani today, expressing concern over the ministry’s proposal to extend rules and regulations meant for the broadcast media to online media as well. The signatories included both veterans in the industry as well as new age media entrepreneurs.In April, the Modi government constituted a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites. The committee was to comprise secretaries of the ministries of information and broadcasting, electronics and information technology, home affairs, legal affairs and the department of industrial policy and promotion as members, but had no representatives from the digital media space.The letter expresses concerns that bringing legacy media structures such as licensing and content regulation could have a drastic impact on a medium that is widely credited with making the media and information landscape more open and democratic across the world.Raghav Bahl, founder of Network18 and Quintillion Media, urged the government to look at the approach taken by other democracies in dealing with issues of online content. “Any hasty action by the government will likely result in overreach,” he said. “Therefore, we believe that the starting point for the government should be to study the global best practices for online content regulation. Many advanced democracies have already debated this and come up with good frameworks that ensure free speech and transparent regulation.”“Internet based media, by its very nature, promotes broader democratic values globally and cannot be dealt with in the way national governments try to regulate or control traditional media,” said M.K. Venu, founding editor at The Wire. “Internet based media and global media aggregators like Facebook, Google have changed the content and distribution landscape in ways that national governments cannot easily control. Nor should they try to. It is a free democratic space and must remain as such,” he added.The full text of the letter is reproduced below:§To,Smt Smriti Zubin Irani,Minister of Information & Broadcasting,Government of India.CC: Prime Minister of IndiaCC: Minister of Information & TechnologyCC: Minister of Law & JusticeCC: Members of Consultative Committee, Information & Broadcasting, Parliament of IndiaDate: May 1, 2018Subject: Proposal to bring online content under media regulationsDear Minister Smriti Irani,We are a group of Indian citizens who depend on the Internet to gather and share information on a daily basis. We have come to know that this ministry has issued an order dated Apr 4, 2018 seeking to establish content regulations for the Internet modelled on those applicable for traditional media like print and TV. This letter is to place on record our feedback on the said order.In the order, you make the following statements:1. There are no norms and guidelines for content shared on the Internet2. Therefore, the ministry has decided to constitute a committee to frame a regulatory framework for such content3. Online ‘dissemination of information’ needs to be brought under regulation on the lines applicable to print and electronic media4. The guidelines shall be sourced primarily from two sources: The Programming & Advertising Code for TV channels put in place by the government, and the norms circulated by traditional media organizations such as Press Council of India, News Broadcasters’ Association and Indian Broadcasting Foundation for their members.As people engaged constantly in the dissemination of news and views on the Internet, we would like to record our response on each of the four points.1. On point 1, we deny the assertion there are no norms and guidelines for content on the Internet. Even a cursory reading of the IT Act would reveal that all content is covered under its scope. The Act in fact goes beyond laying down guidelines, and incorporates stiff punishments for those who violate the content norms laid down in it. Similarly, several other laws, such as the Indian Penal Code, also contain clear dos and don’ts for sharing of content, including over the Internet. Therefore, to say that there are no norms and guidelines for content online is contrary to facts.2. Given that the first premise – that there exists no norms for online content – is incorrect, this statement becomes logically unmaintainable as it relies on the first statement for its validity.3. Next, the ministry says that online content “needs to be brought under regulation on the lines applicable to print and electronic media.” Our position is that online content is different from print and television content, because most of it is produced by individual citizens in exercise of their constitutional right to freedom of expression, and embodies two way communication and interactivity, and not just publishing. Online, it is also difficult to distinguish between publishing and communications. Much of online content is borne out of an individual’s need to express opinions and exercise artistic freedom, protected by Article 19 of the Indian Constitution. It is also worth noting that, according to the Indian Constitution, an individual has the same right to free speech and expression whether by word of mouth, writing, printing, pictures or any other mode. Therefore, restrictions that do not apply to offline speech cannot be used to control online speech either. On the other hand, provisions that apply to offline behaviour – such as the IPC – are equally applicable, and regularly applied, to online content.4. The objections to this proposal have already been recorded under point 3.We reiterate that applying additional regulations on Internet content will:1. Impinge upon the individual citizen’s freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution, and/or2. open up the possibility of widespread abuse and attempts to suppress political dissent by the government and/or the regulating agency. We request you to consider these responses, and call upon the government to withdraw its plans to create additional rules for regulation of online content.This letter has been endorsed by all those who are mentioned below:Raghav Bahl, Co-founder, The Quint (www.thequint.com)MK Venu, Founding Editor, The Wire (www.thewire.in)Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Sr. Journalist (@paranjoygt)Nalini Singh, Sr. Journalist (@nalinisinghtv)Madhu Trehan Co-founder, NewsLaundry (www.newslaundry.com)Shivam Vij, Sr. Journalist (@DilliDurAst)Sanjay Pugalia, Editorial Director, The QuintAniruddha Bahal Editor, CobrapostRaman Kirpal, Managing Editor, NewsLaundryShajan Skariah, Founder & Editor, MarunadanMalayali.comRitu Kapur, Co-founder, The Quint (www.thequint.com)Seema Mustafa, Sr. Journalist & Founder of The CitizenDhanya Rajendran, Co-founder & Editor, The News MinuteNaresh Fernandes, Editor, Scroll.inTanmay Bhat, Co-founder, AIB (www.youtube.com/user/allindiabakchod)Saikat Datta, South Asia Editor, Asia TimesAbhinandan Sekhri, Co-founder, NewsLaundry (www.newslaundry.com)Jayadevan PK, Co-founder, FactorDaily (www.factordaily.com)Samir Bangara, Co-founder, Qyuki Digital Media (www.qyuki.com)Bharat Nayak, Founding Member & Editorial Director, The Logical IndianKishalay Bhattacharjee Author, Defence Journalist, FilmmakerHarini Calamur, Writer, Filmmaker (@calamur)Kuldeep Kumar, Sr. Journalist (@kumar55kuldeep)Amit Varma Editor, Pragati (thinkpragati.com)Vignesh Vellore, Co-founder & CEO, The News MinuteRega Jha, Editor, BuzzFeed IndiaNikhil Pahwa, Founder, MedianamaArunava Sinha, Consulting Editor, Scroll.inJency Jacob, Managing Editor, Boomlive.inGeeta Seshu, Journalist & Media Analyst (@geetaseshu)Pradeep Saurabh, Editor, National DuniyaRangnath Singh, Sr News Editor, Lokmatnews.inCH Unnikrishna,n Sr Associate Editor, Business WorldRamanathan S, Partner, The News MinuteSreejith Divakaran, Executive Editor, Doolnews.comKC Arun, Editor, Abhimukham.comAnjan Mitra, Consulting Editor, Indiantelevision.comAmalendu Upadhyaya, Editor, Hastakshep.comPratik Sinh,a Founder, Alt NewsVivek Kaul, Journalist & Author (@kaul_vivek)Tripti Narain, Lifestyle Editor, India TV DigitalManav Sethi, Online media industry professionalPrakash K Ray, Editor, Bargad.org (@pkray11)Joyjeet Das, Head, Copy Desk at Catchnews.comAkhil Kumar, Reporter, The WireBiraj Swain, Columnist, ICFJ FellowAtul Chaurasia, Executive Editor, NewsLaundry.comRohini Singh, Journalist (@rohini_sgh)Monu Rajan, Journalist (Hindu Business Line)Binita Parikh, Journalist (@binita_parikh)Gyana Ranjan Swain, Founder & Editor, TeleAnalysis.comDurga Sengupta, Journalist (@the_bongrel)Ashok Das, Editor, Dalitdaskak.comAleesha Matharu, Asst Editor, The WireRifat Jawaid, Founder, JantaKaReporter (former Managing Editor, TV Today)Kunal Majumder, Journalist (@kunalmajumder)Akhilesh Krishna, Mohan, Editor, FarkIndia.orgSandesh Mysore, Journalist (@SandeshMysore7)Sreejiraj Eluvangal, Journalist (@sreejiraj)Mahima Jain, Editor, Research Blog LSE (South Asia)Shireen Azam, Digital Editor, EPWShelly Walia, Sr. News Editor, The QuintSanjay Rajoura, Stand-up ArtistRoy Mathew, Editor, NewzScoop.comMahibul Hoque, Hind Kisan Channel (Youtube)Tushar Dhara, Journalist (@DharaShukoh)Ruchi Kumar, Journalist (@RuchiKumar)Pawanjot Kaur, Journalist, The WireRaju PP, Founder, TechPP.comSubhash Gatade, Writer/ActivistAbhishek Srivastava, Mediavigil.comMani Karthik, Blogger (Manikarthik.com)Raksha Kumar, Journalist (@Raksha_Kumar)Shweta Sengar, Journalist (@shwetasengar)Jhinuk Sen, Sr Asst Editor (PCMag, TechRadar)CL Jose, Businessbenchmark.newsMP Basheer, Editor, The Newsrupt (@mpbasheer)Soumya Shankar, Journalist (@shankarmya)Aishwarya Iyer, Reporter, The QuintShadab Moizee Journalist (@shadabmoizee)Jadeer Nandi Journalist @JadeerTKBlassey Boben, Copy Editor, The QuintNadim Asrar, Associate Editor, India Today OnlineMakepeace Sitlhou, Journalist (@makesyoucakes )Lesley Esteves, Digital Editor, National HeraldThomas Manuel, Journalist (FB:thomasonfb)Visvak P, Journalist (@visvak)Meghnad Bose, Reporter, The QuintAmal Vijiv, Journalist, NewzScoop.comSneha Vakharia, Journalist (@sneha_vakharia)Amandeep Sandhu, Journalist (@_asandhu)Madhu Nainan, JournalistNitesh Pradhan Chief of Bureau, Sikkim ChronicleHarachand S, Journalist (@pillscribe007)Dhairya Maheshwari, Reporter, National HeraldVikas Jangra, Journalist (@vikasjangraji)Pragya Tiwari, Journalist (@PragyaTiwari)Rishi Majumder, Journalist (@rishimajumder)Andre Borges, Video Producer, BuzzFeedM Reyaz, Asst Prof (Journalism), Aliah University, KolkataAshlin Mathew, News Editor, National HeraldAsad Ali, Journalist (@da_asad_ali)Parthshri Arora, Journalist (online)Swapnesh Dubey, Blogger – Youtube (@Swapnesh_Dubey)Vishnu Sharma, Journalist (@hellovishnu)Anand Haridas, Journalist (@leospeak)
