Journalist associations, digital rights groups demand withdrawal of laws aimed at ‘curbing freedom of press’
The HinduSeveral journalist associations and digital rights organisations have endorsed a resolution to intensify their demand for the withdrawal of laws that they said were “aimed at curbing the freedom of press”. As stated in the resolution, passed at a meeting held on May 28, 2024, the provisions under laws such as the proposed Broadcast Services Bill, 2023, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, and the Information Technology Amendment Rules, grant authority to the government to remove any online content pertaining to its business that it deems to be false or misleading. @PressCouncil_IN@MIB_India@PIB_Indiapic.twitter.com/SB7bKc0Upi — Press Club of India June 14, 2024 The Broadcast Services Bill, 2023, expands regulatory oversight to include OTT platforms and digital content. The organisations which have supported the resolution are the Press Club of India, Press Club of Mumbai, Press Club Kolkata, Press Club of Chandigarh, Internet Freedom Foundation, Trivandrum Press Club, Cogito Media Foundation, Delhi Union of Journalists, Working News Cameramen’s Association, DIGIPUB News India Foundation, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Indian Journalists Union, and Jan Prasar.