Time to act! Tell the MIB: #LetUsChill

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First they came for radios, then they came for television, then cinemas, and now they are coming for your favourite Netflix shows, YouTubers and independent news channels. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in its recently released draft Broadcasting Bill, has proposed the inclusion of “OTT” broadcasting services, such as Netflix, Disney Hotstar, Jio cinema under its regulatory ambit, which originally only governed the traditional broadcasters such as Cable TV and Radio.In what seems to be an attempt to stifle journalistic speech and expression, the Bill extends regulatory compliance to individuals who broadcast news and current affairs programs through a digital medium, including a website or a social media platform.

Every broadcaster covered under MIB’s regulatory ambit will be required to comply with a Code prescribed by the Union government, failure to do so which will lead to monetary penalties or even imprisonment. The application of such ethical codes on broadcasters, whether an OTT platform or a journalist, will have serious consequences for online free speech and artistic creativity. We may soon see speech expressing satire, irony, sarcasm, dissent, anger, even maybe portrayals of facts and hard-hitting truth, that may not be palatable to the Union or politically influential and powerful communities, being censored or prohibited. Given MIB’s historical baggage with paternalistic regulation, moral policing, and censorship of curated content as well as news media, this bill may very well alter the digital space, for creators and consumers alike.

Stop the government from moral policing your viewing choices online. Stop the government from censoring independent news analysis creators. We are asking MIB to kill the bill before it changes the course of expression of speech online. Write to MIB today and ask them to #LetUsChill!