(a) whether there is any provision to take permission from his Ministry for news web portal prevalent on social media and youtube;
(b) if not, whether the Government is considering for mandatory registration of such portals on the lines of RNI to put a control over them; and
(c) if so, the time by which such a decision is likely to be implemented?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
{SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR}
(a) to (c): The draft ‘Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, 2019’ has been prepared by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to replace the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. The draft Bill inter-alia provides that publishers of news on Digital Media shall register themselves with the Registrar of Newspapers of India. The draft Bill has been placed on the website of the Ministry for seeking comments of the stakeholders and general public.
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