Noab against registration for online edition
Separate registration for the online editions of print media is illogical and unnecessary. Instead, those should be brought under the existing laws that regulate the newspapers.
Newspapers Owners Association of Bangladesh said this in a statement yesterday.
The statement follows the government's initiative to make separate registration mandatory for online media outlets, including the online editions of print newspapers.
On August 6, the information ministry published on its website a draft of an online policy, according to which online media would be operated through a national broadcasting commission.
However, even before the policy is finalised or the commission is formed, the Press Information Department has already begun the process of registering online media, setting an application deadline of December 15, the statement said.
This move, therefore, is contradictory, it said.
"Although the proposed online policy maintains that online media will operate under the commission, it will have no authority on implementing recommendations. As a result, the commission will be fully dependent on the government and the information ministry. Past experiences suggest this kind of initiative violates media freedom rather than ensuring it," the statement said.
Currently, Bangladesh Information Security Policy Guidelines 2013, National Broadcasting Policy 2014, Information and Communication Technology (Amended) Act 2013, Cyber Security Act 2015 (draft) constitute the laws that regulate print newspapers.
Referring to these laws that have direct or indirect link to the online media, the statement said, "So, instead of framing new policies, these laws and policies, which are applicable to the print media, can be applicable to the online media."
According to the statement, although the draft online policy mentions the formation of a registration authority, the PID has already been given the task of initiating the process of registration.
If the PID is given the authority over registration, the government will have strong control over media and allegations of political and financial bias may arise in the process, the statement said.
"There should have been detailed discussions with the stakeholders before taking any decision," it said.
Noab also thinks this policy will rather curb press freedom.
"Therefore, any initiative should be taken on the basis of logical discussions instead of rushing into it," the statement said.
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