Govt approves new self-regulatory body for print, digital news outlets

The government has cleared a print and digital media association to look at grievances related to digital news content. The self-regulatory body called the PADMA has 47 news publishers.

PADMA CEO Jitendra Mehta told the Indian Express, “The organisation will primarily look at grievances related to content on digital media platforms pertaining to current affairs that have not been addressed at the level of the platform.”

In an official order on December 2, the union ministry of information and broadcasting said, “It is hereby informed that Print and Digital Media Association has been registered as a self-regulatory body with the member publishers…PADMA shall perform functions laid down in the sub rules (4) and (5) of rule 12 for the purpose of redressing grievances related to the code of ethics under the rules. The body shall also ensure that the member publishers have agreed to adhere to the provisions of the rules, including furnishing the requisite information under rule 18.”

According to the order, the association will be led by former high court judge Mool Chand Garg and have journalist Manoj Kumar Mishra and Prasar Bharati part-time Ashok Kumar Tandon as members.

Since May last year, the I&B ministry has approved nine self-regulatory bodies under rule 12 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. They also include DIGIPUB News India Foundation and the Confederation of Online Media (lndia), among others.

Rule 12 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, states that self-regulatory bodies will “oversee and ensure adherence by the publisher to the code of ethics; provide guidance to publishers on aspects of the code of ethics; address grievances which have not been resolved by publishers within 15 days; hear appeals filed by the complainant against the decision of publishers; issue such guidance or advisories to such publishers… for ensuring compliance to the code of ethics”.

In October, the government notified amendments to the IT Rules. Through these amendments, the government will now appoint a grievance appellate committee to adjudicate grievances related to intermediaries’ content moderation decisions. Newslaundry had earlier reported on several questions surrounding the changes.