Learn from kerala’s stab at censorship

Learn from kerala’s stab at censorship

It is welcome that the Kerala unit of the ruling party at the Centre, BJP, joined Congress in condemning the Communist government of the state for seeking to bring in a law to control online media. That logic should be extended to abandon the move by the central government to regulate over-the-top (OTT) media, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and umpteen number of news and current affairs channels. The move is fraught: it carries with it the possibility of curtailing free speech and expression, the lifeblood of democracy.

Does this mean that ‘anything goes’ should be the norm for online media? That is hardly the case. All the laws operating in the country apply to online media, just as they do to traditional media. Hate speech is barred and is a punishable offence. Libel and defamation attract penalties. The Constitution itself lays down certain qualifications to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, ‘in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence’. Laws have been framed to operationalise every nuance of the Constitution. There is no need for fresh laws or a regulatory body for pre-emptive enforcement.

As the world grows concerned over China, with its authoritarian State and penchant for extraterritorial muscle-flexing, it is democracy that will serve as the filter for sorting countries as being or not being fit for an alliance that defends freedom. India must qualify and its commitment to democracy must not be allowed to be tarnished any more than it has been. Selfregulation is what OTT platforms need.