Reporters Without Borders, the Network of Women in Media, India, Free Speech Collective, and the Internet Freedom Foundation, have “10 urgent recommendations” for the NDA government to protect journalists, guarantee media independence, amend laws that restrict the right to information, and safeguard access to the Internet and digital media.
“The erosion of press freedom in India, which has happened over the past decade, is deeply worrying in a country that has joined 52 other nations in signing up to the Partnership for Information and Democracy. It creates a very negative international image of a country billed as the world's largest democracy. As India’s journalists struggle to work in an environment where press freedom is declining, Indian civil society organisations join RSF in calling on the new government to urgently adopt 10 key measures to guarantee the protection of journalists and safeguard Indians’ right to information,” said Célia Mercier, RSF’s South Asia desk.
Among these 10 urgent actions the new government in India must take are the overhaul of anti-terrorism laws “so they are not used against journalists”. “The Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Act, 2019 (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act, 1978 must not be used as tools to repress media personnel. Additionally, the state must desist from misusing the criminal laws against journalists.”
The outfits suggested overhauling laws that are “misused to control and censor the media”. “Multiple 2023 regulations must urgently be revised: the Telecom Bill, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, the Broadcasting Bill, and the Information Technology Amendment Rules, which provide for the creation of a fact-checking unit at the sole discretion of the government.”
They also recommended an independent commission to investigate cases of spyware targeting journalists. “At least 15 Indian journalists were targeted by Pegasus spyware between 2021 and 2023.”
They demanded the protection of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources and safeguarding of pluralism by regulating media concentration. “A small number of private-sector companies and conglomerates currently own many of India’s media outlets. Legislation must be introduced to end these monopolies and restrict cross-ownership in order to safeguard media diversity.”
They also suggested protocols to protect journalists and to put a stop to arbitrary Internet shutdowns. Guarantee the foreign media’s ability to cover India, they added.
“The prime minister and other decision makers within the government must hold regular press conferences accessible to all media,” they said, adding that the government must protect the rights of all journalists.
“Journalists – both employees and freelancers – are increasingly vulnerable due to both job insecurity and the non-recognition of their right to work. Their access to important public events is restricted by laws around accreditation, and the legitimacy of freelancers and journalists on digital media platforms has yet to be recognised. The newly elected government must strengthen the legal protections surrounding reporters’ right to work.”
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