India's parliamentary panel proposes a Media Council

A parliamentary committee in India is recommending the creation of a common Media Council. The council would unify print, broadcast, and digital media under one organization. This aims to improve coordination and ensure laws are followed. The committee, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, discussed this idea earlier this year. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is also considering this council, modeled after the Press Council of India. The proposed council would help supervise various media forms, including news content on streaming platforms like Netflix and JioHotstar. Currently, these platforms are managed under certain IT rules, which have faced legal challenges from news organizations claiming they are too broad. There are plans for the MIB to expand its authority. It may take over the regulation of over-the-top (OTT) content, which includes streaming services, as part of a new Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill. However, the MIB has stated it will not introduce this bill in the current parliamentary session. The new Media Council could have specific teams for different media types, allowing better monitoring and enforcement. While the government wants the power to issue emergency orders to block problematic content, these orders might need to be reviewed by the council. In addition to regulating news, the MIB is looking to oversee non-news content, such as entertainment, on OTT platforms. This may involve applying existing broadcasting codes or creating new rules. The goal is to ensure content complies with legal standards while still maintaining user-generated content regulations. This proposal is part of an ongoing discussion about how media should be regulated, particularly as technology evolves. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has previously sought public feedback on whether different media types should be overseen by a single regulator given the changing landscape.