After fake news order withdrawal, Government panel appointed to regulate online news

In the wake of the wide criticism, the government garnered due to its controversial order which said that journalists may lose accreditation if found to have created or circulated fake news, the order was withdrawn within 24 hours.

Now, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to constitute a committee to structure rules to supervise the news portals, media websites and online content platforms.

While the official order in this regard has not been released, a ‘leaked’ copy of the order signed by the director, broadcasting in the ministry, Amit Katoch, became widely available on the internet.

According to the order, "there are no norms or guidelines to regulate online media websites and news portals”, and the government-appointed committee will "frame and suggest a regulatory framework for online media/news portals, including digital broadcasting and entertainment/infotainment sites and news/media aggregators".

A 10-member committee has been appointed which includes secretaries of the ministries of I&B, home, electronics and IT, law, and the department of industrial policy and promotion.

Representatives of the News Broadcasters Association, Indian Broadcasters Federation, Press Council of India, and the chief executive of MyGov also included.