Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Saturday emphasized on several important challenges faced by the news media. The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister has called for greater accountability and fairness from Big Tech. Speaking at an event held in Delhi on the occasion of National Press Day, the Union Minister expressed concern over many things related to fake news and algorithms.
Misleading news spreads rapidly
Union Minister Vaishnav said that the information posted on online platforms is not verified. Due to this, false and misleading information spreads rapidly on all platforms. Ashwini Vaishnav called on online platforms and Big Tech to combat misinformation and protect democracy.
Traditional media facing financial stress
The Union Minister said that the consumption of news is rapidly moving towards digital platforms. The second challenge is about providing fair compensation by the platforms for the content created by traditional media. Due to this, traditional media outlets are facing financial stress.
Fake news is a big threat to democracy
Along with this, the Union Minister said that the rapid spread of fake news is not only a big threat to the media, because it reduces trust, but it is also a big threat to democracy. Vaishnav has also proposed to revisit the ‘safe harbour’ provision, which protects social media intermediaries like Meta, X, Telegram from liability for user-generated content. The Union Minister argued that this provision, developed in the 1990s, may no longer be appropriate given the widespread reach and impact of digital media.
Extra caution will have to be taken
Along with this he asked that we will have to take more extra precautions with our society than before. There are many sensitivities in our country which are not present in those countries. Where these platforms originate. So if the circumstances are different, shouldn’t there be different criteria for the platforms? Shouldn’t there be more responsibility on the platform?
Algorithm promotes sensational news
Union Minister Vaishnav warned that the algorithms running digital platforms often prioritize content that exaggerates sensationalism or divisive narratives. He claimed that it poses a risk to the society. Solutions are needed that balance engagement with ethical considerations.
There can be serious consequences
He said that in a diverse country like India, misinformation and such algorithmic bias can have serious social consequences. We have seen in many examples. In my opinion this approach is irresponsible and dangerous for our society.
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