TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale recently issued an advisory for individual content creators regarding the Modi government’s Broadcasting Services Bill. According to Gokhale, creators posting content related to politics and current affairs will now need to be registered with the government and follow the same rules as media outlets. Failure to comply could lead to imprisonment, he warned.
Gokhale criticized the Bill, linking it to the BJP’s poor results in the 2024 elections and accusing Modi of targeting citizens who challenge the government’s narrative on social media. He believes the Bill will severely restrict freedom of expression in India.
Clause 20 of the Bill specifically targets online news broadcasters, requiring them to adhere to certain codes. While Gokhale previously suggested that ordinary individuals might not be affected, he now warns of potential repercussions for content creators.
Published 26 July 2024, 05:21 IST