I&B ministry proposes bill to regulate digital media outlets, lists it for monsoon session

A bill to regulate digital media outlets — making them liable for violations that apply to print media — has been listed for the upcoming monsoon session, according to a statement by Lok Sabha secretariat on Friday.

As of now, the digital media is not regulated by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), but can voluntarily register with the ministry as per the new IT rules introduced last year. The publishers will now have to register with the Press Registrar General, persons in the know of the matter said.

“The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2022 seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 by decriminalisation of the existing Act, keeping the procedures of the extant Act simple from the view point of medium/small publishers, and uphold the values of Press Freedom,” the statement read.

The bill is also likely to decriminalise provisions of the PRB Act, 1867, which currently covers news media. “It will do away with the provisions, violation of which can lead to imprisonment,” one of the persons citied above said.

A bill to regulate digital media outlets — making them liable for violations that apply to print media — has been listed for the upcoming monsoon session, according to a statement by Lok Sabha secretariat on Friday.

As of now, the digital media is not regulated by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), but can voluntarily register with the ministry as per the new IT rules introduced last year. The publishers will now have to register with the Press Registrar General, persons in the know of the matter said.

“The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2022 seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 by decriminalisation of the existing Act, keeping the procedures of the extant Act simple from the view point of medium/small publishers, and uphold the values of Press Freedom,” the statement read.

The bill is also likely to decriminalise provisions of the PRB Act, 1867, which currently covers news media. “It will do away with the provisions, violation of which can lead to imprisonment,” one of the persons citied above said. Hindustan Times