Media & Social Media

• media
  • legacy (gatekeepers of information)
    • print
      • magazine
      • journal
      • newspaper
    • electronic
      • TV
      • Radio
  • social

Role played by media in IS

• creating awareness, shaping public opinion
  • report based on facts, evidence
  • shape public opinion to debate discussions & oped pieces
  • helps projection of india’s values & principles on global stage
• enhancing india’s imagie
  • crucial role in busting propaganda, disinformation campaigns by adversaries
  • journalists, media houses imp part of track 2, 3 diplomacy which helps normalize relationship w/ adversaries
  • media also plays +ve role in sensitizing ppl
    • eg. by pushing stories of communal harmony, other kind of content that +vely reinforces values of tolerance, harmony

Challenges posed by media to IS

• compromising efforts of law enforcement agencies
  • irresponsible coverage
  • eg. 26/11 attack, Kargil war
    • handlers in Pak were getting info
• sensationalisation of national security issues
  • create panic among policy makers, political leadership
  • eg. IC 814 hijacking
• disinformation & misinformation campaigns
  • rumor of fake news, unverified info get published, bypassing editorial scrutiny
  • sometimes, media agencies try to deliberately establish identity of individuals in sensitive issues, creating polarization in society
• reporting on subjudice matters
  • media trials on matters that are subjudice tend to declare persons guilty ahead of judicial verdict as per commercial interest
• paid news
  • difficult to differentiate b/w paid & authentic news & criminals often seek help of news agencies to whitewash their image so that they can make entry into public life

Regulation of Conventional or legacy media

Existing bodies of regulation of media include

• Press council of india
• news broadcasting standards authority
• central board of film certification

Press council of india

• statutory body estd. under PCI Act 1978
• only for print media
  • not electronic
• task: preserve independence of press and build code of conduct for journalists and news agencies
• maintain high standard of public taste & foster responsibilities among citizens
• can receive complaints of violations of journalistic ethos or professional misconduct, can inquire into these complaints and can issue warnings
• can’t penalize newspaper agencies, editors, journalists

News Broadcasting Standards Authority

• self regulating body
• oversees television news channel
• devises code of ethics to regulate TV content

CBFC

• regulates certification of films
• ensures adherence to specific standards, guidelines

Advertising standards of council of india

• self regulatory voluntary org
• 1985 estd
• monitors, regulates content of advertisements across media platforms
• ensures adverts are truthful, honest, not misleading
• investigates complaints regarding false, unethical advertizing practices
• issues guidelines and advisory notes to advertisers to maintain ethical standard in advertising

Social Media

• group of interactive web 2.0 internet based apps, websites that allow 2 way communication

Role of social media in promoting L&O

• expad reach of security agencies
• helps bridge trust deficit b/w citizens, security agencies
• strong tool of community policing
  • eg. helping w/ investigation agencies
  • keep public informed about status of investigation
• intelligence become powerful tool for security agencies
• to counter fake news, propaganda & help w/ perception mgmt of govt, security agencies
• can also be used to impart training to security agencies

Challenges posed by Social Media

• advantage of much bigger reach & advanced data analytics through which information can be tailored and towards likely audience
  • hence any polarization, disinformation campaigns conducted on social media are far more effective in creating mischief, nuisance
• harbor for conventional crimes to perpetrate in cyberspace
• increased use by TO for recruitment & operational purposes
• privacy concerns
  • citizen data being used to impact voting behaviour
  • eg. Cambridge Analytica
• harbor for obscene & unregulated content

Social Media regulation in india

Social media regulation guidelines

• Section 69, IT Act

Key guidelines:

• all intermediaries should appt. grievance rederessal officer to deal w/ objectionable content
• complaint must be acknowledged within 24hr, resolved in 15d
• CSEAM removed within 72hr
  • “safe harbour protection”
• govt shall appt appellate committee to look into appeals against decisions of GRO
• for Significant Social Media Intermediaries (>5M users), a compliance officer must be appt to ensure compliance and prepare monthly reports
  • SSMI must also develop tools to identify first originator of information

Challenges to regulation of Social Media

• amt of info generated is huge, that in cannot be dealt with by normal human means
• hence, need to deploy technological soln w/ some human intervention
• eg. YT 500hr video content per minute
• Twitter generates PB data every day

Reasons behind huge volume of content

• monetization
• low entry barrier
• lack of boundaries in cyberspace