'Avoid anti-national content': MIB warns TV channels against inflammatory debates

NEW DELHI: The ministry of information and broadcasting on Wednesday issued an advisory to satellite TV channels, asking them to avoid live coverage of anti-terror operations, exercise caution while broadcasting violent visuals and refrain from airing anti-national content.In its advisory, the ministry asked channels to strictly adhere to the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994."The ministry of information & broadcasting has observed instances of non-compliance with the provisions of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, by various private satellite television channels," the ministry said."Instances of similar news/visuals broadcast on multiple channels on similar topics were observed during the meeting of IDC. Therefore, IDC recommended that all private satellite television channels be advised to strictly adhere to the statutory provisions governing content broadcast on television. The committee also emphasised that inappropriate behaviour or language should not be normalized in telecast," it added. The guidelines cover live coverage of anti-terror operations, violent visuals, crime reporting, natural disasters, the use of authentic maps of India, communal harmony and the protection of sexual assault victims' identities.On communal harmony and debate programmes, the ministry said channels must ensure that programmes, including live debates and panel discussions, "do not promote or encourage communal or anti-national attitudes". Broadcasters have also been cautioned to exercise due care while using artificial intelligence, including generative AI, in programmes such as graphics and virtual news presentations.The ministry said AI tools "may be limited to assistive capacity" without compromising the "accuracy, authenticity, or sensitivity" of news content.The ministry further asked broadcasters to strengthen their editorial and content-review mechanisms and regularly sensitise and train personnel involved in news gathering, editing, production, transmission and telecast.The ministry said violations of these guidelines may invite action under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. Rohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.