Congress Slams New Broadcasting Bill as a Threat to Free Speech and Independent Media

The Congress party has criticized the proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, describing it as a significant threat to freedom of speech and independent journalism.

On Friday, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera expressed concerns on ‘X’, stating that the Bill aims to extend government control over a wide range of content creators, from social media influencers to independent news platforms. He warned that the Bill could lead to increased surveillance online and undermine press freedom.

Khera accused the central government of attempting to undermine the economic viability of independent creators by imposing stringent regulations that equate them with large media corporations. He argued that the Bill categorizes anyone who posts videos, creates podcasts, or reports on current events as digital news broadcasters, potentially stifling independent news reporting.

According to Khera, the new regulations impose heavy compliance burdens on small creators, risking their potential closure due to lack of resources. He criticized the requirement for content creators to establish evaluation committees, which he claims introduces pre-publication censorship. He also raised concerns about the monitoring of ‘negative influencers’, suggesting that it threatens diverse voices.

Khera further contended that treating digital content creators similarly to traditional broadcasters could deter new entrants into the field. He likened the potential impact of the Bill to the government’s handling of the crypto market in India, suggesting it could have a similarly detrimental effect.

Additionally, Khera noted that the drafting process of the Bill excluded critical stakeholders such as civil society and journalists. The second draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, which has been shared with stakeholders this week, may apply to content creators with a subscriber base of at least one million.