look news india
New Delhi/Lucknow. In this era of digital revolution and social media, the Delhi High Court has made a very strict and historic comment regarding the falling standards of journalism and blackmailing by fake reporters. During the hearing of a case, the Honorable Court, while advocating for media regulation and strict media laws in the country, said that in today’s time, access to smartphones and internet has become so easy that any person with a mobile phone in his hand starts claiming to be a journalist or reporter. The court clearly warned that due to this unbridled system, a new business of blackmailing and extortion has started in the society, to stop which major changes in the Information Technology (IT Act) and media rules are the need of the hour.
“Smartphones and YouTube channels are becoming a means of recovery”
Expressing deep concern during the hearing, the Delhi High Court bench said that earlier for journalism it was necessary to have a certain qualification, credibility and affiliation with a registered media house. But in today’s digital age, any person buys a simple smartphone, creates a YouTube channel or social media page and declares himself an independent investigative journalist. The court said that instead of doing genuine journalism, many of these people are intimidating local officials, businessmen and common people and making illegal extortions from them.
Need to make strict laws for digital media
The court underlined that freedom of speech does not mean that anyone should be allowed to take the law into their own hands under the guise of journalism. Drawing the attention of the government and concerned regulators, the High Court said that now the time has come when a clear legal framework and guidelines should be prepared for digital media, YouTube journalists and social media influencers. According to the court, unless registration and code of conduct is made mandatory for them, it will be impossible to curb such illegal activities.
It is important to differentiate between freedom of press and fraud
Delhi High Court made it clear that freedom of press is a strong pillar of Indian democracy and the safety of honest and fearless journalists is very important. But, this fraud and blackmailing syndicate growing under the guise of freedom of the press cannot be tolerated at all. After this strict comment of the court, it is now expected that in the coming days, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting can further tighten the rules to check the credentials of digital news platforms and social media journalists.