Broadcast Services Bill to regulate the content on social media

The proposed Broadcast Services Bill in India aims to extend the regulatory framework traditionally applied to television and streaming platforms to include user-generated content on social media, particularly content created by professional creators.
 
While the intent to regulate content responsibly is understandable, it is crucial to balance regulation with the need to preserve creative freedom and innovation. Clear definitions, proportional regulation, and stakeholder engagement are essential to ensure that the regulatory framework supports a vibrant and dynamic digital content ecosystem.
 
The proposed amendment to the Broadcast Services Bill in India has sparked concerns about stifling artistic freedom on social media. Stakeholders, including content creators and industry experts, are concerned that this approach might lead to censorship.  They argue that official certification could restrict creative expression and limit the diversity of content available on social media platforms.

 
Current Scenario: Social media platforms are currently regulated under the Information Technology (IT) Rules,2021. These rules focus on removing harmful content like hate speech and misinformation, but don't have specific regulations for content creation.
 
Proposed Amendment: The new proposal suggests bringing user-generated content created by professional creators on social media under the purview of the Broadcast Services Bill. This bill primarily regulates content broadcast on television and streaming platforms.
 
Unclear Scope: There's ambiguity regarding the definition of "professional creators" and the type of content that would be affected. The potential impact on millions of social media users who create content is a major concern.
 
Moving forward, content by professional creators could face stricter regulations, impacting content creation freedom. The Bill proposes oversight committees that could potentially censor content. Dual regulation under the IT Rules and the Broadcast Services Bill could create confusion and inconsistency.
 
Overall, the Broadcast Services Bill's proposed amendment on regulating social media content raises significant concerns about artistic freedom. The impact on content creators and the overall online content landscape in India remains to be seen.