What Is The Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024? Why Is It Igniting Censorship Fears?

If you consume content online, post videos on YouTube or Instagram or seek expert advice on the Internet, then this news is for you. The government is set to replace the 30-year-old Cable TV Networks Act 1995 with Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024.

The proposed regulations on content creators of Instagram, YouTube and X have already raised concerns about the freedom of speech and expression and the government’s powers to regulate it.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has expanded its remit from OTT content and digital news to include social media accounts and online video creators compared to a version of the draft law which was released publicly in November 2023.

WHO ARE NEWS BROADCASTERS UNDER NEW BILL?

The new draft defines ‘professional’ as a person engaged in an occupation or vocation — and ‘systematic activity’ as “any structured or organised activity that involves an element of planning, method, continuity or persistence”.

The new draft mentions that “news and current affairs programmes” would include ‘texts’ apart from the existing “audio, visual or audio-visual content, sign, signals, writing, images” which are “transmitted directly or using a broadcasting network”.