MIB rejects INS plea to exempt online portals of newspapers from IT Rules, 2021

In a new development, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has rejected the Indian Newspaper Society’s plea to be exempted from the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Today, the industry body representing the biggest newspaper publishers in India, told I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar that newspaper websites could not be equated with other digital media and hence pleaded that they should be exempted from the guidelines. The body’s top members met over Zoom Video Conferencing.

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Earlier, Javadekar had pointed out that newspaper’s digital platforms peddle a lot more information than what they print on paper, however, promised that he would look into the issue. In the latest meeting, the Ministry did not accede to the demands of the newspaper body and also rejected its plea for a six months extension before they came under the purview of the guidelines.

The matter has been discussed in an emergency meeting by the President of INS with other senior members and it has been decided to get the matter examined and take further appropriate action.

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