India Today Group issues two-month social media gag order on its editorial staff

In an internal memo that has come into the possession of Adgully, India Today Group has issued a social media gag order on all employers whether full time, part time, consultant, retainer, or event third party.

All personnel in contract with India Today Group are to use their personal social media handles to post content or promotion that belongs to the Group that has been used in print, digital or air and retweet what is posted from the Group’s own handles. This compulsion will remain active for two months.

For non-compliance, the Group will use disciplinary action including termination of the employee to enforce the new directive.

According to the memo, the directive has been issued to avoid needless controversies on social media. India Today Group has recently been in the headlines over involvement in the TRP scam case, however, the link of this incident to the gag order is uncertain.

The advisory ends with a clarification that ‘this is not, by any means, a breach of your right to expression or freedom of the press’. Any employees with queries on the new policy can approach the Editor and HR of India Today Group.