Suspense Crime Sach Ka Dam
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Saturday stressed several important challenges facing the news media. The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister has called for greater accountability and fairness from Big Tech. Speaking at an event in Delhi on the occasion of National Press Day, the Union Minister expressed concern over fake news, algorithms, and many other things.
Fake news spreads fast.
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 upon online platforms and Big Tech to combat misinformation and protect democracy.
Traditional media is facing financial stress.
The Union Minister said that the consumption of news is rapidly moving towards digital platforms. The second challenge is about proper compensation by the platforms for the content created by traditional media. This is causing financial stress to traditional media outlets.
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, as it reduces trust but it is also a big threat to democracy. Vaishnav also proposed to reconsider the ‘Safe Harbor’ provision, which protects social media intermediaries like Meta, X, and 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 wide reach and influence of digital media.
Extra caution has to be taken.
Along with this, he asked that we have to be more careful 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 standards for the platform? Shouldn’t there be more responsibility on the platform?
Algorithms promote sensational news.
Union Minister Vaishnaw warned that the algorithms running digital platforms often prioritize content that exaggerates sensational or divisive stories. He claimed that this poses a risk to society. Solutions are needed that balance engagement with ethical considerations.
There could 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 this in many examples. In my opinion, this approach is irresponsible and dangerous for our society.
