Addressing the event organized by the Press Council of India in Delhi on the occasion of National Press Day, Union Minister Ashvini Vaishnaw highlighted key challenges, including fake news & disinformation, fair compensation by platforms, algorithmic bias, and the impact of AI on intellectual property as top challenges.
The first challenge that he noted is that the platforms do not verify the content posted. Hailing the need to change the safe harbour construct during the 1990s and calling upon an open debate, the union minister raised the question of their relevance in today’s challenging digital world.
Talking about the second challenge, “fair compensation by the platform content created in conventional media” he also mentioned that the “consumption of news and content is rapidly shifting from conventional modes to digital media. Expressing concerns about the declining financial state and challenges faced by traditional media, Ashvini also emphasized the significant disparity created between digital media and traditional media.
“The third challenge is algorithmic bias evident on the platform. Unfortunately, these algorithms tend to prioritize content that incites strong reactions. So, regardless of the factual accuracy, platforms and algorithms, in turn, have a tendency to show or maximize content that generates such strong reactions.”
The minister believes that “in a country as diverse as India misinformation and algorithmic bias can have serious social consequences,” which is visible through multiple instances, this “approach is irresponsible and dangerous for our society.”
As the fourth challenge - Impact of AI on Intellectual Property, Ashvini called out that platforms “must come out with solutions that account for the impact their systems and algorithms have on this.” Highlighting the rise of AI, he raised critical questions the creators’ content whether from musicians, writers, or filmmakers is absorbed by AI models without concern about their rights of compensation or acknowledgment.
“Safeguarding original creators is not just an economic issue but also an ethical one, and it’s a challenge society must urgently address.”
Considering the gravity of four vital challenges, he said, “These are the challenges which are going to be more and more dominant, prominent in the coming days.”
The minister pressed upon the need for an open discussion and called out the media to write above politics as according to him, “Press and media are very strong pillars of democracy” and encourage the journalism community together to build a future “where journalism empowers the people strengthens our nation and showcases the best of India to the world.”
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