Date: Thursday, November 12, 2020
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
By a notification, the Central Government has brought all digital/online media platforms and online content providers within the ambit of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. These were under the Ministry of Information and Electronic Technology earlier, and subject to various provisions under the IT Act to deal with digital platforms and intermediaries.
This notification is a clear expression of intent that the Central Governmetn is now moving to “regulate” digital media content. Having muzzled the print and electronic/visual media to a considerable extent, it is moving to control digital media.
The CPI(M) is opposed to control of the digital media by a government department. The CPI(M) believes that the existing laws and IT Act are adequate for the purpose of a healthy digital media.