India Considers New Law for Fair Transactions Between Big Tech and News Publishers

India is considering a new law to ensure fair transactions between Big Tech and news publishers, following in the footsteps of countries like Australia. The proposed law, in addition to the Digital Competition Bill, aims to establish fair and transparent contracts between news publishers and influential technology companies. The move comes as policymakers recognize a power imbalance between media organizations and tech giants in the digital market.

The parliamentary standing committee on finance, led by Jayant Sinha, had previously proposed regulatory provisions to ensure fair dealings between news aggregators and publishers. While this was not included in the Digital Competition Bill, discussions are ongoing within the ministry of information and broadcasting to evolve a separate law for this purpose.

Experts in the industry believe that having a regulatory framework in place can compel Big Tech companies to negotiate fair deals with news publishers, ultimately leading to increased revenues for digital news businesses. The proposed law aims to address the imbalance in bargaining power and ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders.

As India explores the need for a legal framework to govern these transactions, other nations like Australia have already seen success with similar laws. Australia’s bargaining code of 2021 has resulted in commercial agreements between digital platforms and news businesses, enabling news organizations to make valuable investments in their operations.

Overall, the proposed law in India seeks to promote fairness in the digital media news market and create a more equitable environment for news publishers and Big Tech companies. With the digital advertising industry in India growing rapidly, the implementation of such a law could have significant implications for the industry as a whole.