The Karnataka Government will explore a demand made by the newly created Electronic Media Journalists Association for a licensing mechanism for digital news broadcasters including YouTube channels, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday.
“They have said that licences are needed to start news channels and to broadcast news, but there is no licence required for broadcasts on YouTube and digital media. There is a demand for licensing of these mediums as well. We will examine this request,” Siddaramaiah said in Hubballi, where he inaugurated the Electronic Media Journalists Association.
In a memorandum presented to the chief minister, the association alleged that YouTube channels that engage in unethical practices tarnish the reputation of journalism. They demanded that licences be made mandatory for these channels as well.
The coverage of claims of secret burials made in Karnataka’s Dharmasthala region on YouTube and other digital platforms has resulted in questions being raised about unsubstantiated and unverified reports being passed as authentic news. A section of YouTubers from the coastal Karnataka region has been accused of defaming the Dharmasthala temple administration through their reporting.
A Special Investigation Team probing the Dharmasthala secret burials case has questioned a Kerala YouTuber who had uploaded a video amplifying witness-complainant C N Chinnaiah’s claims that he had buried hundreds of bodies in the temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.
The family of the Dharmasthala temple administrator and BJP MP Veerendra Heggade moved a Bengaluru court in August seeking the removal of over 8,000 posts, including 4,140 YouTube videos, 932 Facebook posts, and videos about the Dharmasthala controversy. The court plea claimed that there was an abuse of freedom of speech through the uploading of false, frivolous, reckless, and defamatory video content.
During his address to the Electronic Media Journalists Association, Siddaramaiah, however, also stated that the electronic media should stop broadcasting speculative information.
Story continues below this ad
“You all should stop speculative journalism. This is harmful to society,” he told electronic media journalists.
“In all these years since I entered politics, I have never asked any media outlet to write this way or that way about me. Even when you keep telling lies about me, I have never asked anyone why they were spreading lies,” the chief minister said. “I don’t expect anything from you. If possible, reveal the truth.”
“Our Government is always in favour of freedom of expression. I have never done anything that would jeopardise this, and neither will our government,” Siddaramaiah said.