In a significant move, the central government convened a high-powered inter-ministerial meeting to address growing concerns about the imbalance in negotiating power between big tech companies and digital news publishers.
The meeting, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will be an important step towards ensuring a fair and competitive digital market, officials said.
Key government officials, including secretary to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), secretaries to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Law, will participate in Wednesday's meeting.
Related article: Streaming, linear broadcasters criticize India's broadcasting bill
According to sources, the diverse group stressed that the government recognises the multifaceted nature of the problem and the need for a holistic approach. The main agenda revolves around the urgent need for a dedicated legal framework to address alleged unfair competitive practices between digital news publishers and large tech companies.
While the proposed Digital Competition Act is under consideration by a committee set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, there is a growing consensus that a separate and specific legal mechanism is needed to protect the interests of digital media companies.
Small and mid-sized digital news publishers are reportedly struggling to compete with advertising revenues and the overwhelming influence of technology giants who dominate content distribution channels. The current revenue sharing model heavily favors large technology companies, with digital news publishers receiving a disproportionate share of advertising revenues.
Additionally, technology companies control key aspects of content distribution, which impacts the visibility and reach of news publishers' content, affecting their survival and sustainability. Additionally, there are concerns about data privacy and the use of personal data collected by technology companies, which could further disadvantage news publishers.
The government is considering several strategies to address these challenges, including developing a new legal framework specific to digital media to complement the broader Digital Competition Act, as well as policies to ensure advertising revenue is shared fairly between technology companies and news publishers.
The central government is also considering establishing stronger regulatory mechanisms to monitor interactions between digital news publishers and technology companies, as well as mandating greater transparency of tech companies' algorithms and data usage policies to ensure a level playing field.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to foster a fair, competitive and transparent digital media ecosystem. By addressing these power imbalances, we aim to safeguard the integrity and sustainability of digital news publishing in India,” the official said.
Also read: World Bank predicts India will remain fastest growing among major economies X This is your last free article.
Source link
