A proposed broadcast bill in India could cover accounts and users on social media platforms that put news and current affairs content online on YouTube, WhatsApp or Telegram channels.

A proposed broadcast bill in India could cover accounts and users on social media platforms that put news and current affairs content online on YouTube, WhatsApp or Telegram channels. The Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2023 also seeks to regulate streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar, and other broadcasting services or OTT platforms. The bill will treat anybody broadcasting news and current affairs as OTT broadcasters who will be liable to attract the same obligations, Hindustan Times reported. Streaming platforms and online news organisations, which fell under the category of publishers, will now come under the category of broadcasters. Clause 20 of the new bill says, "Any person who broadcasts news and current affairs programmes through an online paper, news portal, website, social media intermediary, or other similar medium but excluding publishers of newspapers and replica e-papers of such newspapers, as part of a systematic business, professional, or commercial activity shall adhere to the Programme Code and Advertisement code referred to in Section 19." ALSO READ | India weather: Delhi air quality falls to 'severe' category after slightly improving; rains may bring relief Although the meaning of an OTT broadcasting service excludes social media intermediaries and their users, experts cited in the report said clause 20 includes them if they broadcast news and current affairs programmes using these platforms. It implies that independent journalists with YouTube channels and Instagram accounts, where they post news for professional reasons, will have the same obligations as an OTT broadcaster, said the report. Furthermore, citizen journalists will also attract the same obligations if they post news content as "a systematic business, professional or commercial activity," the report said. However, the bill does not cover a person occasionally posting public interest content or streaming a riot live. But there's less clarity about whether the Twitter account of a journalist featuring tweets about the news could attract the obligations of an OTT broadcaster. "You could get included, but that will be determined by how they notify the threshold for OTT platforms and if they will have a lower one for journalists," the report quoted Gowree Gokhale, partner at Nishith Desai Associates, as saying. While financial influencers could attract the obligations of an OTT broadcaster, newspapers and their e-replicas would be exempted. Although YouTube will not comply with the act as it is a social media intermediary, the paid version of YouTube, YouTube Premium, will qualify as an OTT broadcasting service. Under this bill, even the prime minister's WhatsApp channel could attract the same obligations as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, claimed an expert quoted in the report. (With inputs from agencies)

India's new broadcasting bill to regulate not only OTTs but also individuals putting online news content

Google will remove links to Canadian news from search results and other products in&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;when a law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers comes into effect, the Alphabet-owned company said on Thursday.

Google joins Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc in announcing an end to news access for Canadian users of their platforms after Bill C-18, or the Online News Act, was passed into law last week. The law is expected to come into effect in six months.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, has said platforms do not have any obligations under the act immediately and that the government was open to consulting with them on the regulatory and implementation process.

Canada's media industry has called for tighter regulation of tech companies to prevent them from elbowing news businesses out of the online advertising market.

"We have now informed the government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in&nbsp;Canada," Google said in a blogpost.

"We don't take this decision or its impacts lightly, and believe it's important to be transparent with Canadian publishers and our users as early as possible," it said.

The act outlines rules to force platforms such as Facebook and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content, a step similar to a groundbreaking law passed in Australia in 2021.

The U.S. technology companies have said the proposals are unsustainable for their businesses. Google has argued&nbsp;Canada's law is broader than those in Australia and Europe, saying it puts a price on news story links displayed in search results and can apply to outlets that do not produce news.

The search engine giant had proposed that the bill be revised to make the displaying of news content, rather than links, as basis for payment and to specify that only businesses that produce news and adhere to journalistic standards are eligible.

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Google will remove links to Canadian news from search results and other products in Canada when a law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers comes into effect, the Alphabet-owned company said on Thursday.

Google will remove links to Canadian news from search results and other products in Canada when a law requiring internet giants to pay news publishers comes into effect, the Alphabet-owned company said on Thursday. Google joins Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc in announcing an end to news access for Canadian users of their platforms after Bill C-18, or the Online News Act, was passed into law last week. The law is expected to come into effect in six months. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, has said platforms do not have any obligations under the act immediately and that the government was open to consulting with them on the regulatory and implementation process. Canada's media industry has called for tighter regulation of tech companies to prevent them from elbowing news businesses out of the online advertising market. "We have now informed the government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada," Google said in a blogpost. "We don't take this decision or its impacts lightly, and believe it's important to be transparent with Canadian publishers and our users as early as possible," it said. The act outlines rules to force platforms such as Facebook and Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content, a step similar to a groundbreaking law passed in Australia in 2021. The U.S. technology companies have said the proposals are unsustainable for their businesses. Google has argued Canada's law is broader than those in Australia and Europe, saying it puts a price on news story links displayed in search results and can apply to outlets that do not produce news. The search engine giant had proposed that the bill be revised to make the displaying of news content, rather than links, as basis for payment and to specify that only businesses that produce news and adhere to journalistic standards are eligible. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Google to remove news links in Canada over law on paying publishers

The Government of India will now regulate online news and OTT platforms. Was this the need of the hour? WION's Palki Sharma makes a case.

Gravitas: Indian government to regulate OTT platforms

Tech Giants have always siphoned news content from traditional media. The Australian government has now decided to make them pay for news. Should India follow Australia's lead?

Gravitas: Google & Facebook asked to pay for news

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