now the digital media platform will not remain unbridled in up

Lucknow. The Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh has approved the ‘Uttar Pradesh Digital Media Policy-2024’ after assessing both the merits and demerits of the digital media platform. Under the new policy, on the one hand, the government will encourage those who post meaningful content, while on the other hand, those who spread anarchy in the society or post indecent comments or posts will be reined in. While in this, arrangements have been made for advertising to the agencies and firms working on social media, provisions have also been made for legal action for posting indecent or anti-national posts.

This policy has been brought to convey the information and benefits of public welfare, beneficial schemes and achievements of the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh to the people through digital and social media. Under this, the agencies and firms related to these will be encouraged by advertising to display content, videos, tweets, posts and reels based on the schemes and achievements of the state government on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. This will provide employment to a large number of people. Director Information Shishir Singh, who has been trying for a long time to bring a policy in this regard, said that the content posted should not be indecent, obscene and anti-national.

At present, action is taken by the police under Section 66 (E) and 66 (F) of the IT Act for posting objectionable posts on social media. Now for the first time, the state government is bringing a policy to control such cases. Under this, if found guilty, there is a provision of punishment ranging from three years to life imprisonment (in anti-national activities). Apart from this, one may also have to face a criminal defamation case for posting indecent and obscene material. The central government had issued Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code three years ago to curb such activities.