Minister: Broadcasting Bill to Be Introduced Following Comprehensive Consultation
(Judicial Quest News Network)
20, August,2024
The Broadcasting Bill 2023 has been put on hold following criticism regarding its costly provisions for online content creators and the secretive manner in which one of its versions was circulated. Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced on Monday that the draft bill would be paused to allow for more extensive consultation with creators and other stakeholders.
Vaishnav emphasized the government’s commitment to a broad and inclusive consultation process, stating, “We are open-minded and flexible, and we want to ensure that any action we take is informed by a diverse range of views.” He indicated that any new legislation related to broadcasting, whether online or offline, would only proceed after a more comprehensive consultation process.
The bill was initially intended to support and encourage content creators, but there was concern that it might impose undue regulatory burdens. Vaishnav clarified that the goal was to foster the creation and sharing of intellectual property, and the consultation process would address these concerns to ensure the bill’s objectives align with its implementation.
If the consultation process determines that new legislation is unnecessary, no new law will be proposed, according to a senior official. The current version of the bill, which is open for public comment until October 15, 2023, will be subject to further consultations. The official noted that the bill will not be introduced in Parliament this year.
The decision to pause the bill follows significant criticism from civil society over its potential to increase regulatory burdens on news content creators on platforms like YouTube and impose additional compliance requirements on streaming services. These services already adhere to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
The official also mentioned that the bill aimed to address a regulatory gap left by the repeal of the Telegraph Act 1885 and the passage of the Telecommunications Act 2023. However, the Telecommunications Act did not leave a substantial regulatory gap, making the Broadcasting Bill less urgent.
Additionally, the bill faced criticism for the confidential and individually watermarked distribution of its draft version to a select group of stakeholders. Following this controversy, the Ministry withdrew this version, recalling the copies distributed, and has decided to consider responses based on the previous draft going forward.
