'Traditional media must be compensated by e-platforms'

NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday highlighted the critical issue of fair compensation for traditional media, underlining how it is financially disadvantaged as news consumption is "rapidly shifting" from the conventional modes to the digital space.

During his address on National Press Day, hosted by Press Council of India, the minister argued that substantial investment in traditional journalism - including training, editorial processes, and verification - has been undermined by digital platforms' unequal bargaining power.

Media challenged by fake news , algorithm bias & AI: Vaishnaw

While the investment that goes behind creating a team of journalists, training them, having editorial processes and methods to check the veracity of news, and taking responsibility for the content is huge both in terms of time and money, they are becoming irrelevant since these platforms are having a very unequal edge in terms of bargaining power vis-a-vis conventional media," Ashwini Vaishnaw said while adding that efforts made by the conventional media in creating content must be suitably compensated.

The minister called for a balanced approach to ensure that traditional media remains viable while holding digital platforms accountable for the content they disseminate. "It's time for a collective effort to redefine these provisions and safeguard the future of journalism," he said.

He identified three other pressing challenges facing media and society today: fake news and misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the impact of artificial intelligence on intellectual property.

Vaishnaw emphasised the need to revisit the "safe harbour" provision which shields intermediaries and internet service providers from liability for third-party content hosted on their platforms and has allowed tech companies to act selectively, often prioritising their interests over public accountability. "So, the question is, who will take the responsibility for the content published on these platforms," he asked.

Further, Vaishnaw stressed upon the ethical imperative of protecting creators' rights amid AI advancements. "AI models today can generate creative content based on vast datasets they are trained on. But what happens to the rights and recognition of the original creators who contributed to that data? Are they being compensated or acknowledged for their work?" he asked. "This is not just an economic issue, it is an ethical one too."