Print & electronic media rarely cross line, digital media is completely uncontrolled: Centre to SC

PTI, Sep 21, 2020, 8:56 PM IST

New Delhi: The print and electronic media “rarely cross the line” by the very nature of their composition but the digital media is “completely uncontrolled” and “remains unregulated” by and large, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.

The government said if the apex court considers it necessary to lay down guidelines for mainstream electronic and print media, it is the “need of the hour” that the exercise should start first with web-based digital media.

In a fresh affidavit filed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the top court may leave wider issues to be decided the central government and the competent legislature or start the exercise with digital media.

The affidavit was filed in a pending matter in which the apex court is hearing a petition which has raised grievance over Sudarshan TV’s ‘Bindas Bol’ programme whose promo had claimed that channel would show the ‘big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service.’

The Centre had last week filed a short affidavit in the matter and said that if the Supreme Court decides on the issue of media regulation then such an exercise should be undertaken with the digital media first as it has faster reach and information has the potential to go viral due to applications like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.

The fresh affidavit further said: “By the very nature of its composition, the print and electronic media would rarely cross the line which may need the intervention of this court frequently. As against that, by its very nature the web-based digital media, by and large, remains unregulated.”

It said as, against the limitation in case of print media and mainstream electronic media, nothing is required for accessing digital media except a smartphone.

“This shows its potential spread and its potential to harm the very fabric of any nation. The electronic media would normally have a geographical barrier and would rarely have a global presence. The digital media, on the other hand, has a global presence both in terms of content coming from out of India and the content going out from within the country,” it said.

“As against this, there is absolutely no check on the web-based digital media. Apart from spreading venomous hatred, deliberate and intended instigation to not only cause violence but even terrorism it is also capable of indulging in tarnishing the image of individuals and institutions. The said practice is, in fact, rampant,” the affidavit said.

It said any further regulation of electronic and print media by the court, either by way of guidelines or providing for any redressal mechanism, would incentivise broadcasters to use electronic media less and telecast/publish the same thing on digital platforms which would remain unregulated despite having wider reach without any corresponding responsibility or obligation.

“However, if this court considers it necessary to lay down guidelines for the mainstream electronic and print media (which is not required as pointed out hereinabove), it is the need of the hour that this court starts the said exercise first with ‘web-based digital media’ which includes ‘web magazines’ and ‘web-based news channels’ and ‘web-based news-papers’ as the same not only has a very wide reach but is completely uncontrolled,” it said.

It reiterated that regulation of electronic and print media is substantially occupied by either legislative field or judicial pronouncements.

“By and large the dividing line – what is freedom of expression and what is not – is also capable of being culled out through various judicial pronouncements. The term ‘hate speech’ by its very nature is incapable of being precisely defined except by considering each case depending upon the facts arising therefrom,” it said.

It said the court may not widen the scope of the plea by laying down any wider guidelines of general application and may leave the same to the competent legislature to provide the same.

“It is also relevant to note that in case of electronic and print media, the security of the nation is also taken care of at the time of the registration and/or grant of license to the company or the organization intending to publish or broadcast either newspaper or a news channel,” it said.

It said that India has about 385 regular news channels which are registered or licensed by the central government under the Uplinking and Downlinking Policy Guidelines.

It said that the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) is not the sole association having all broadcasters as its members and as is a non-statutory voluntary body, its membership is also voluntary.

It said another similar association News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) is also a voluntary organisation having several broadcasters including regional channels as its members.

“Both these two associations have their own self-regulatory mechanism which is not only robust but can inspire confidence as both such self-regulatory mechanism are headed by a former judge of this court,” it said.

It said self-regulatory mechanism for redressal of complaints in case of all the aforesaid organisations are, by and large, effective and ensures impartiality.

It said membership of such organisations does require examination as no broadcaster can be compelled to become a member of any of the voluntary organisations compulsorily.

“This question is under examination of the central government as regards the manner and procedure to ensure one statutory umbrella mechanism redressal of grievances while completely ensuring journalistic freedom..,” it said.