New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has withdrawn the latest draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, following significant controversy and criticism. The bill, which was distributed to a select group of stakeholders between July 24 and 25, raised concerns about the government's potential to exert greater control over online content, including the freedom of speech and expression.
Sources revealed that stakeholders were asked to return the physical copies of the draft bill, which had not been made public but was shared in a watermarked format to prevent leaks. The draft drew criticism for provisions that could classify most online content creators, such as independent journalists on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, as broadcasters. This classification would have subjected them to stringent regulations, including the establishment of Content Evaluation Committees (CECs) to pre-certify content.
The ministry's decision to withdraw the bill has left stakeholders confused, especially since a new draft had been circulated privately last month. The ministry did not provide a public comment on the withdrawal but posted a statement on X, referring to an earlier draft from November 2023. The statement mentioned ongoing consultations with stakeholders, offering them additional time until October 15 to submit their comments. It also stated that a fresh draft would be published after detailed consultations.
However, the ministry's statement did not acknowledge the 2024 draft shared last month, leading to further confusion among those who were not part of the select group of stakeholders. The withdrawn draft was seen as a significant departure from the November 2023 version, which aimed to consolidate the legal framework for the broadcasting sector and extend it to OTT content and digital news.
The ministry is expected to return to the drawing board and work on a new proposal, according to sources.