Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF)

Subject – Governance

Context – No coercive action against digital media without our approval, says Madras HC

Concept –

The Madras High Court asked the central government not to take any coercive action against digital media companies that are members of Indian Broadcasters and Digital Media Foundation, under key provisions of the new IT Rules, 2021, without seeking its permission.

About Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF)

IBDF is a unified representative body of the television broadcasters in India.
The organisation was founded in the year 1999. Over 250 Indian television channels are associated with it.
Recently, in May, 2021, The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the apex body of broadcasters, was expanded to cover digital streaming platforms and renamed as the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF).
The move brought the broadcasters and OTT (over-the-top) platforms, which had seen a substantial jump in their viewership base after the pandemic, under one roof.
IBDF also formed a self-regulatory body named as Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC) for digital OTT platforms.
- DMCRC is a second-tier mechanism at the appellate level and is similar to Broadcast Content Complaint Council (BCCC), which IBF had implemented for the linear broadcasting sector way back in 2011.
- The IBDF is the parent organisation of the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) which was set up in the year 2011. The BCCC examines content-related complaints relating to all non-news general entertainment channels in India.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021

Social media intermediaries, with registered users in India above a notified threshold, have been classified as significant social media intermediaries (SSMIs).
- SSMIs are required to observe certain additional due diligence such as appointing certain personnel for compliance, enabling identification of the first originator of the information on its platform under certain conditions, and deploying technology-based measures on a best-effort basis to identify certain types of content.
The Rules prescribe a framework for the regulation of content by online publishers of news and current affairs content, and curated audio-visual content.
All intermediaries are required to provide a grievance redressal mechanism for resolving complaints from users or victims. A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism with varying levels of self-regulation has been prescribed for publishers.

Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA)

It is a13-member collective of the country’s biggest news media companies.
DNPA is an organisation of the digital arms of leading media companies of the country, representing both print and television entities.
Formed in 2018, the DNPA includes: IE Online Media Services of The Indian Express Group, ABP Network, Amar Ujala, DainikBhaskar Corp, Express Network, HT Digital Streams, Jagran Prakashan, Lokmat Media, NDTV Convergence, TV Today Network, The Malayala Manorama, Times Internet Limited and Ushodaya Enterprises.