Ministry of Information and Broadcasting withdraws Draft of Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2024

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has withdrawn the latest draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024. The draft was previously shared with select stakeholders for feedback between July 24 and 25, 2024. However, the ministry has now asked these stakeholders to return their copies and informed them that their comments are no longer needed. The draft was part of an ongoing consultation process that began in November 2023 when the first version of the bill was uploaded online.

Concerns and controversies

The latest draft raised concerns, particularly over provisions that could classify most online influencers as broadcasters if they discussed current affairs. This classification could include independent journalists on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, as well as other online content creators. Those who met a certain threshold would have been required to set up Content Evaluation Committees to review and certify their content before publishing.

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There are also uncertainties about whether the bill will be entirely redrafted or if only specific sections will be revised. The draft also included guidelines for intermediaries and sought to regulate advertising practices. The bill was not shared publicly but only with certain stakeholders, and it drew significant controversy over its potential impact on online content creators and the consultation process itself.