{"id":125327,"date":"2024-08-08T19:37:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T14:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=125327"},"modified":"2024-08-09T14:30:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T09:00:36","slug":"draft-broadcast-services-bill-2024","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/draft-broadcast-services-bill-2024","title":{"rendered":"Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Ministry of Information and Broadcasting <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has proposed the <\/span><b>Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which introduces <\/span><b>onerous regulations on independent creators of news events on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and X<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Broadcasting<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broadcasting is the <\/span><b>distribution of audio or video content<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to a <\/span><b>dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is typically done <\/span><b>using the electromagnetic spectrum<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as radio waves, in a one-to-many model.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With evolving technology, the broadcasting sector has evolved and new mediums are used to transmit content.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key features of the Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Purpose of the Bill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Broadcast Services Bill 2024, which seeks to replace the 1995 Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, deals with television broadcasting.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Over-The-Top (OTT):\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>About: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OTT refers to <\/span><b>content delivered via the internet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without the need for traditional broadcasting or cable platforms.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OTT allows<\/span><b> users to access media directly through internet connections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on various devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Includes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OTT services typically include:<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Streaming Video Services: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Streaming Audio Services: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Online News and Media Platforms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Websites and apps that offer news, magazines, and other digital content.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Concerned Ministry: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over-the-top (OTT) platforms under the<\/span><b> ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Expanded Scope: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Broadcast Services Bill 2024 consolidates the legal framework for the broadcasting sector and <\/span><b>extends it to OTT content and digital news and current affairs as well.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Definition of Digital News broadcaster: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest draft seeks to define <\/span><b>\u201cdigital news broadcasters\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to include <\/span><b>\u201cpublisher of news and current affairs content\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> means any person who broadcasts news and current affairs programmes through an online paper, news portal, website, social media intermediary, or another similar medium as part of a systematic business, professional or commercial activity but <\/span><b>excluding replica e-papers.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This definition could include users on <\/span><b>YouTube, Instagram, X etc,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who generate advertising revenue through paid subscriptions or monetise their social media accounts through affiliate activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regulation of News Programmes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The draft Bill also seeks to regulate the <\/span><b>broadcast of news and current affairs programmes (excluding print news).<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Such programmes will have to comply with the prescribed programme code and advertisement code.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Broad Definitions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term <\/span><b>\u2018systematic activity\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has also been defined to mean <\/span><b>any structured or organised activity that involves an element of planning, method, continuity or persistence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.This is a very vague term which could be made to mean anything and gives the executive a long leash over enforceability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inclusion of Individual Creators: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new draft specifically includes <\/span><b>individual creators under the definition of digital news broadcasters<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, unlike the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which exclude individual users.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Legal Obligations for Independent Creators<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Intimation to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>If a creator is categorised as a digital news broadcaster, they must \u2018intimate\u2019 the MIB about their work and existence.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no subscriber\/viewer threshold specified in the 2024 draft.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>All must comply regardless of audience size.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Content Evaluation Committees (CECs)<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creators are required to establish <\/span><b>one or more CECs at their own expense.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CECs must be <\/span><b>diverse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including individuals knowledgeable about different social groups, women, child welfare, SC\/STs, and minorities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>names and credentials of CEC members must be submitted to the government.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Penalties for Non-Compliance<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failure to appoint a CEC or to submit required details will incur fines: <\/span><b>\u20b950 lakh for the first violation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>\u20b92.5 crore for subsequent violations within three years.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Exemptions and Administrative Procedures<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The draft Bill allows for <\/span><b>potential exemptions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for certain players or groups to avoid genuine hardship.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creators must submit an <\/span><b>application to the government within a month<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><b>notify their operational status and CEC appointment.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Obligations for Social Media Companies under the Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Exemptions from Liability<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Function Limitation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Social media intermediaries like Facebook, YouTube, and X are <\/span><b>not liable for third-party content <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their role is <\/span><b>limited to providing access to a communication system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for third-party information.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They <\/span><b>do not initiate or alter the transmission of information.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They <\/span><b>only modify information in compliance with government orders.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They exercise<\/span><b> due diligence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and adhere to prescribed guidelines.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Criminal Liability Provisions<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Information Compliance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Social media companies may face criminal liability if they fail to provide required information related to OTT broadcasters and digital news broadcasters on their platforms for compliance purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Current Legal Precedents<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Court Orders on IT Rules 2021:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Bombay and Madras High Courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had <\/span><b>stayed rule 9(1) and 9 (3) of the IT Rules 2021<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that<\/span><b> mandate news and current affairs publishers to adhere to Code of Ethics, citing its adverse impact on press freedom.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Potential Impact on Broadcasting Bill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These court orders may serve as a <\/span><b>precedent if digital news broadcasters seek a stay on provisions in the Broadcasting Bill,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if it were to be published in its current form.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Example of\u00a0 Other Countries<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Singapore&#8217;s Broadcasting Law<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Scope:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Includes <\/span><b>both traditional broadcasters and OTT content providers.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Regulation:<\/b> <b>OTT platforms are regulated under copyright law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and must obtain a licence from a regulator.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the obligations for licensees are less stringent compared to traditional television services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.931%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 137.837%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: 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X.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2084],"subject":[2124],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/125327"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125327"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/125327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125394,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/125327\/revisions\/125394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125327"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=125327"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=125327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}