India to regulate online news and social media sites

India’s government has issued an order bringing the regulation of online news portals and content providers such as Netflix under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a first step to regulate digital media.

News on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram will also come under the ministry, as will audio-visual content on online platforms, according to Wednesday’s announcement.

However, it was not clear if news portals from other countries would be included.

According to local media, the government will pass a law in Parliament detailing the regulation of online media.

While electronic media in India is regulated by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995, there was no law or body to oversee digital content in the past.