Srinagar, Sep 30: KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Government will frame a new Media Policy within four months to address issues relating to social media and digital journalism, Education and Health Minister Sakina Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
Sakina Itoo said a committee had already been constituted to work on the policy in coordination with the Information Department and had sought four months to complete the exercise.
The announcement came during a discussion in the House on the regulation of social media and the functioning of digital news platforms, with legislators raising concerns over the circulation of unauthorised, misleading and unverified content.
The minister said the government was working towards putting in place guidelines for social media journalists and platforms, amid calls from members for a regulatory framework governing digital news dissemination.
The issue gained particular attention after members raised concerns over the circulation of videos and other material from the Assembly through social media accounts without authorisation.
The discussion also saw differing views among legislators over the manner in which digital platforms should be regulated, with concerns over accountability and misinformation being weighed against the need to protect media freedom and freedom of expression.
The proposed Media Policy is expected to provide the framework for addressing these concerns, with the committee tasked with preparing the guidelines within the stated four-month period. [KNT]
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