CPI(M) demands freedom of digital media from government control

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Digital media should remain free of direct government control, said the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI(M)) on November 12, 2020.

The CPI(M) opposed a notification of the central government that brought all online media platforms and online content providers within the ambit of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B.)

“This notification is a clear expression of intent that the central government is now moving to “regulate” digital media content. Having muzzled the print and electronic/visual media to a considerable extent, it is moving to control digital media,” said party members in a press release.

Earlier, online content came under the Ministry of Information and Electronic Technology and was subject to various provisions under the Information Technology (IT) Act regarding digital platforms and intermediaries. According to the organisation, the existing laws and IT Act are adequate for the purpose of a healthy digital media.

However, under the new notification signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, films, audio-visual programmes, news and similar content would be screened by the I&B Ministry from the date of issuance.

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and cinephiles on social media have also expressed their reservations regarding the recent announcement.

Brilliant news. Perversion and psychotic content must be regulated. They are slowly turning OTT into not just soft-porn, gore and abusive platforms but also as religious, cultural and political weapons. https://t.co/J52C0PfMrn
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 11, 2020

Lots of films nd shows criticising right wing politics have been releasing in online streaming platforms nd now the government has brought OTT contents nd digital news under the regulation of Ministry of I & B. Expect a lot of bollywood deshbhakth film announcements nd a pic.twitter.com/3D7Ij7qclW
— Ananthakrishnan H (@ak070499) November 11, 2020

Last year, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar over-the-top (OTT) platforms required regulations just as other forms of media like print, news channel, advertisements and films work under corresponding presiding authorities.