The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has registered three self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) under the Information Technology (Intermediary Liability and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, it informed news organisations in an email on September 13. It registered the Internet and Mobile Association of India's Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council, one of the two SRBs for streaming services; and two digital news SRBs, the Web Journalists' Standards Authority (formed under the Patna-headquartered Web Journalists Association of India) and the Professional News Broadcasting Standards Authority (part of the News Broadcasters Federation). IAMAI's body and the PNBSA were recognised on August 18, and the WJSA was recognised on September 3. Even as the IT Rules face legal challenges in High Courts around the country — nineteen by last count — some compliance is coming in kicks and starts. However, among news organisations, this is happening at a snail's pace. A grand total of 100 digital news websites are registered under the two news SRBs, a fraction of the 1,800+ news publishers that have reached out to the I&B Ministry to furnish their particulars have a second layer of regulation as required by the law. Who the SRBs represent Web Journalists' Standards Authority Committee members Chair: Ghanshyam Prasad, Former Judge, Patna High Court Daya Shankar Prasad, IAS, Retired Ramesh Chandra Sinha, Former Director General of Police, Bihar Rohan Priyam Sahay, Advocate, Patna High Court Rana Yashwant, Managing Editor, India News Network Anand Kaushal, National President, Web Journalists Association of India Amit Ranjan, National General…
