New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI) has passed a resolution aimed at safeguarding the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and access to information.
The PCI convened on May 28 to address mounting concerns regarding legislative measures that threaten press freedom and digital rights. The meeting was attended by representatives from various media and digital rights organizations.
In a statement it said the PCI meeting held on May 28 “resolved to intensify the demands of media and digital rights organisations and urges the government to withdraw laws that are aimed at curbing the freedom of press.”
“The sweeping provisions under laws such as the proposed Broadcast Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, the Press and Registration of
Periodicals Act, 2023, and more importantly, the Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023, which grants authority to the government to remove any online content pertaining to its business that it deems to be false or misleading, are meant to silence the press,” it said.
“Broadcast Services Regulation Bill, 2023, expands regulatory oversight to include OTT platform and digital content. It will replace the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. It proposes mandatory registration, content evaluation committees for self-regulation and a three-tier regulatory system,” the PCI added.
The meeting noted that there are apprehensions of control and regulation and may place unreasonable restrictions on the citizens’ right to know. “The government must ensure that the right to know of the people is not trampled upon. The practice of repeated internet shutdowns impedes both the citizens’ right to information and journalists’ ability to report news.”
The meeting also noted that the press in the country must stand up for its rights granted under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution so that it continues to act as an important pillar of “our vibrant and inclusive democracy.”
“Similarly, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, attempts to define the digital space which it regulates while trying to put more emphasis on data handling. It seeks to protect data from unauthorised access. This meeting notes that breaches and misuse have become a critical concern in the modern digital age. However, amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to align it with Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, curtails the crucial section of RTI, which has served as a vital tool for journalists for ferreting out critical information about the functioning of governments and public servants in public interest.’’
