Broadcasters Call for Exemption from New IT Rules, Marketing & Advertising News, AND BrandEquity
The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Thursday urged the government to “exempt and exclude” traditional television news media and its extensive presence on digital news platforms from the scope of the 2021 IT rules, saying that ‘it was already “sufficiently regulated” by various statutes, laws, directives, codes and regulations. “The Information Technology Act 2000 (Information Technology Act 2000) did not consider regulating digital news media. Despite this, the IT rules of 2021 aim in particular to include traditional news media, i.e. electronic television news media with a digital news feed. and the presence on other digital media platforms, under its purview. This appears to be ultra vires the Computer Law of 2000, “the NBA said, expressing concerns in a letter to Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.
The NBA represents several major news and current affairs broadcasters of national and regional private television which operate news channels in Hindi, English and regional languages.
“In any event, while the NBA appreciates the need for regulation, traditional news media need not be subject to and / or covered by the scope of the 2021 IT rules, because they are already sufficiently regulated by various statutes, laws, directives and codes, regulations and judgments, ”he says.
NBA members are also required to abide by the code of ethics and broadcasting standards as well as the regulations and guidelines of the National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), he added.
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The NBSA is an independent self-regulatory mechanism that is led by a distinguished legal scholar with four independent members of civil society, individuals with proven credentials in various fields of endeavor, and four NBA member editors.
“The 2021 computer rules, if applied to digital media in the linear television medium, would only result in a duplication of the judging and redress mechanism resulting in the creation of parallel judging bodies,” the NBA said.
The 2021 Information Technology Rules (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Code of Ethics for Digital Media) prescribe administrative regulations, which will make the survival of small and medium-sized traditional media organizations “virtually impossible”, said the broadcaster.
“Any additional mandate as envisioned in the 2021 IT Rules would lead to increased staff costs and compliance requirements for traditional TV media organizations as well as duplication and creation of parallel processes,” he said.
The NBA said media organizations should devote “significant time and resources” to resolving each complaint and defending themselves in multiple forums.
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“Therefore, the NBA suggests that the main focus should be on strengthening the already existing mechanism of the NBSA and the statutory recognition of the NBA code of ethics under the rules of cable television,” a- he added.
The NBA also said the Computer Law of 2000 and Computer Rules 2021, as well as provisions “more specifically” such as content blocking in emergencies, will have a “severe” impact on freedom of speech and media expression.
“Since news channels / broadcasters and their extended digital arms strictly adhere to the applicable statutes and regulations and are governed by multiple levels of appeal mechanism, if the IT rules, 2021 are made enforceable, this will not only lead to the harassment of news channels / broadcasters, but will also suppress and violate their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and also restrict news reporting in a fair manner, ”the association said.
“The NBA calls for the exclusion of digital news platforms owned and operated by traditional news media from the scope of the provisions of the IT rules of 2021,” he said.
The association requested that a “specific and express exclusion” be provided for in the definitions of “digital news media and / or news and current affairs content publishers” in order to exclude the applicability of the provisions of the IT rules, digital 2021. information platforms owned and operated by traditional news media.
The association also urged the ministry to keep the 2021 IT rules “on hold / suspension”, especially regarding NBA members until the outstanding issues challenging the 2021 IT rules in the various high courts are ruled. and trenches.
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