DM Monitoring
NEW DELHI: The Indian media continues to experience more curbs as the Narendra Modi government gradually tightens rules to force it to toe the line, sparking protest from the Editors Guild of India (EGI) which termed new rules an attempt to “undermine freedom of the press in the country.”
The guild in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged to revoke the Information Technology Rules 2021, and said the new digital media rules and the three-tier mechanism to enforce the code of ethics were “regressive” and would be “adverse to the freedom of the press.”
“We are deeply concerned about the notification of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. The Rules, issued under the Information Technology Act, 2000, have the potential of fundamentally altering how publishers of news operate over the Internet and undermine freedom of the press in the country,” a letter dated March 6 reads.
Various other provisions in these rules can place unreasonable restrictions on digital news media, and consequently media at large. The Editors Guild pointed out that these rules have been brought in without any consultation with the stakeholders and “deepen the worry that freedom of the press in India is being seriously compromised.”
“Given your public commitment towards protecting freedom of speech and expression in India, we urge your urgent intervention in revoking these rules and for facilitating meaningful consultations with all stakeholders for a constructive approach, which is in line with the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression.”
The Editors Guild of India sought time from the Prime Minister to discuss the issues. The guild had earlier raised their concerns with the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
