Digital news portals, online films now under I&B Ministry

SRINAGAR — The Central government issued an order on Wednesday, bringing digital or online media, films and audio visual programmes, news and current affairs content under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Currently, there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content.

The development was announced in a gazette notification on Wednesday. The notification declared that the President has signed the order to include online films, digital news and current affairs content under the purview of the I&B Ministry, headed by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Back in 2019, I&B Minister Javadekar had stated that the Modi government won’t take any step that may curb media freedom. He also said that there should be some kind of regulation on over-the-top platforms, as there is for the print and electronic media and films as well.