Govt Brings Online News Websites, Streaming Services Under The Purview Of I&B Ministry

The government has brought the news websites and streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, reports Indian Express.

According to a government notification dated 9 November, the Centre amended allocation of business rules to bring digital/online media under the I&B Ministry's purview.

In the notification, the Centre said that it amended the relevant section in "Government of India (Allocation of Business) rules, 1961" to include "film and audio-visual programmes made available by online content providers", and "news and current affairs content on online platforms" under the purview of the I&B Ministry.

Earlier in 2018, a committee had been set up by the I&B Ministry to frame laws to regulate online media and news portals.

The move reportedly came after the government felt that unlike private TV channels and print media, there was no "norms or guidelines" to regulate online media and news portals.

The committee was formed to recommend "appropriate policy formulation for online media/ news portals and online content platform including digital broadcasting which encompasses entertainment/ infotainment & news/ media aggregators," reports Indian Express.

The committee was also tasked with analysing the "international scenario" for similar regulations and to define the scope of what all could be regulated in online news and media sphere.