NWMI, along with our allies @internetfreedom and @indiafreespeech, endorse @RSF_inter‘s message to India’s new government, urging it to adopt measures to safeguard the protection of journalists, their freedom to do their work and to safeguard Indians’ right to information. pic.twitter.com/UMrJGCjbZn
— NWMIndia (@NWM_India) July 1, 2024
The Network of Women in Media, India, (NWMI) joined Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Free Speech Collective (FSC), and the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), to call on India’s new government to adopt urgent measures to safeguard the protection of journalists and their freedom to do their work.
The 10 urgent actions the new government must take:
1) Overhaul anti-terrorism laws so they are not used against journalists
The Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Act, 2019 (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act, 1978 must not be used as tools to repress media personnel. Additionally, the state must desist from misusing the criminal laws against journalists.
2) Overhaul laws that are misused to control and censor the media
Multiple 2023 regulations must urgently be revised: the Telecom Bill, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, the Broadcasting Bill, and the Information Technology Amendment Rules, which provide for the creation of a Fact Checking Unit at the sole discretion of the government.
3) Establish an independent commission to investigate cases of spyware targeting journalists
At least 15 Indian journalists were targeted by Pegasus spyware between 2021 and 2023.
4) Protect the confidentiality of journalists’ sources
The seizure of journalistic equipment must be limited to strictly defined, exceptional circumstances that are controlled by an independent judicial authority. This is essential in order to safeguard the confidentiality of journalists’ sources, which are currently not protected.
5) Safeguard pluralism by regulating media concentration
A small number of private-sector companies and conglomerates currently own many of India’s media outlets. Legislation must be introduced to end these monopolies and restrict cross-ownership in order to safeguard media diversity.
6) Adopt protocols to protect journalists
Measures for a quick response to guarantee the physical and digital safety of journalists, especially those under threat and intimidation, are urgently needed. Measures must also be taken to protect journalists, notably women and those from marginalised communities, against cyber-harassment to end impunity for these attacks and enable reporters to continue their work.
7) Put a stop to arbitrary Internet shutdowns
India led the world in arbitrary cuts to Internet access for the sixth year running in 2023. These shutdowns, which are carried out in an arbitrary manner, violate international law, obstruct journalists’ work and encourage the spread of mis- and disinformation.
8) Guarantee the foreign media’s ability to cover India
Foreign journalists who were based in India have been refused visas and work permits since 2019. Deprived of the right to work, several of them had to leave the country.
9) Hold press conferences
The prime minister and other decision makers within the government must hold regular press conferences accessible to all media.
10 ) Protect the rights of all journalists
Journalists – both employees and freelancers – are increasingly vulnerable due to both job insecurity and the non-recognition of their right to work. Their access to important public events is restricted by laws around accreditation, and the legitimacy of freelancers and journalists on digital media platforms has yet to be recognised. The newly elected government must strengthen the legal protections surrounding reporters’ right to work.
