“Though people within and outside J&K know all that what people in media think about use of U tube channels for news and views on politics and governance on FB pages but they are in a state of helplessness in the absence of a prompt regulatory mechanism for U tube channels used for news bulletins and debates on politics and governance on FB pages.”
Actions evoke reactions from people of all hues more so after the advent of social media across the world and same holds good for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Very rightly the FIR has been registered against a student for uploading an inflammatory video and spreading it beyond control only to hurt the emotions of one or other community. Knowing that mere registering a case won’t stop misuse of social media channels but a stringent action that would translate action into a exemplary punishment is required to reduce the trend of putting the inflammatory content on social media channels, the DGP has talked about a law against social media handlers in Jammu & Kashmir. The general perception brewing among the people for the last several years is that the misuse of social media channels has not only threatened communal harmony but it has also unfortunately set a bad trend of the exploitation of the people in Government and those running public institutions on commercial lines. Very rightly the DGP has said that trend of misusing social media channels hugely disturbs public life, brings on suspension mode the education of youth and ultimately every sector of economic and social activity is badly hit . The DGP fortunately has not only talked about actions against the people misusing social media content but he has talked about bringing a law under 144 Criminal Procedure Act for action against those uploading, sharing videos, posts, texts, audio on social media. So by all probabilities any such whenever invoked against misuse of social media content would be a path breaking initiative in enforcement of digital accountability in Jammu & Kashmir. It is in place to mention here that almost two years back Chief Admin of a social media channel was arrested along with his several associates on charges of extortion but he was released later and still uses the U-tube channel for telecast of news bulletins and debates on current political events as usual from his FB page. Administrative wisdom demands that authorities who unblocked the said U-tube channel and FB page owe an explanation to both the people and as well as the top law enforcing authorities in Jammu & Kashmir. Like this many FB pages are used as social media channels in Jammu & Kashmir. In fact the unprecedented rise in the no of U-tube channels for news and views on politics and governance on FB pages has set a bad trend as most of such U-tube channels are run without any formal registration of the authorities designated for grant of registration to newspapers, news magazines and satellite news channels. Had guidelines been prescribed and authorities designated for use of social media channels on Face book pages and other social media accounts of individuals or groups of individuals, the reports about the misuse of social media content for threatening the atmosphere of peace and security besides exploitation of people in Government and business operations won’t appearin print and electronic media again and again. The huge misuse of social media contents by the unregistered social media channels has unfortunately brought the entire media fraternity into disrepute. Though people within and outside J&K know all that what people in media think about use of U tube channels for news and views on politics and governance on FB pages but they are in a state of helplessness in the absence of a prompt regulatory mechanism for U tube channels used for news bulletins and debates on politics and governance on FB pages.
“Morality demands that code of ethics applied to professional journalists from major newspapers, news channels and news agencies is also applied also to social media channels for the purpose of public accountability. Unless and until the rules and regulations are not set for the registration of social media channels with the intent of enforcing digital accountability in Jammu & Kashmir, the misuse of social media channels can’t be curbed with a a heavy hand.”
As admins of FB pages use U-tube channels without registration by the authorities designated for registration of newspapers, news magazines and satellite news channels on their own whims and wishes and enjoy much impunity , the questions raised by people about registration and regulations for use of U-tube channels for news bulletins and debates on politics and governance on FB pages go unnoticed. Interestingly the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladhak just two years ago had in a directive to J&K Government asked it to inform if online news portals and agencies on social media are required to seek registration and whether permission under law has been granted to them. The PIL had also in one of it’s contentions also said that “ real professional journalists from major newspapers, news channels and news agencies follow a strict code of ethics”. Ultimately it comes to the issue of code of ethics for social media news channels. Morality demands that code of ethics applied to professional journalists from major newspapers, news channels and news agencies is also applied also to social media channels for the purpose of public accountability. Unless and until the rules and regulations are not set for the registration of social media channels with the intent of enforcing digital accountability in Jammu & Kashmir, the misuse of social media channels can’t be curbed with a a heavy hand.
