'Online media can run under existing laws'

The Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) has termed irrelevant the government's move to make provision for mandatory separate registration of the online media outlets.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, it said the online media can well be run under the existing laws.
The NOAB made its position clear in response to the government’s recent move for all online media, including online editions of the print media, to have separate registration.
The statement pointed out that the print media follow all rules and regulations of the government.
The print media has online editions for readers within the country as well as for expatriate Bangladeshis to access news.
The NOAB sees "no justification or relevance" for registration of these online editions, according to the statement.
The information ministry's website published a draft of the online policy on 6 August. The draft speaks of online media operating through the national broadcasting commission.
However, before this was finalised, the information directorate has issued a press statement calling for registration of online media within 15 December, the last date for registration.
The NOAB said that this statement for online media registration, before the policy or the commission has been formed, is contradictory and motivated.
The proposed online policy maintains that the commission will be formed and the online media will operate under the commission, but it will have no authority to implement recommendations. The commission will be wholly dependent on the government, the information ministry in particular, according to the NOAB.
Past experience shows that such initiative infringes on the press freedom rather than ensuring it, the statement added.
It went on to say, there are innumerable online newspapers in the country operating with no regulation. However, the NOAB stated, such media has caused no harm to the government.
Pointing out that the online media works for free expression, it was also said that no one is above the law. There is scope for action to be taken against any individual or institution that violates the rules and regulations, the NOAB said.
It listed that the existing Bangladesh Information Security Policy Guidelines 2013, National Broadcasting Policy (NBP) 2014, Information and Communication Technology (Amended) Act 2013, the draft Cyber Security Act 2015, and other laws have direct or indirect relevance to the online media.
NOAB feels that there is no need for any new policy. "These laws and those related to the print media, can be applicable for the online media."
The statement drew the government’s attention, stating that no matter how many online media sites there may be, their existence depended entirely on the readers, listeners and viewers.
The NOAB noted that it was unjustified that the government bypassed the commission and gave the information ministry the registration authority.
"If the government keeps registration in its own hands before the commission is set up, this will hamper tje free media," the NOAB said adding that this registration may lead to allegations of partisan bias, harassment and corruption.
The association of newspaper publishers and editors observed that the objective of the online registration was ostensibly to provide the media with government facilities and to control yellow journalism. "It was not clear how this would be done. There should have been detailed discussions with the stakeholders before any decision was made," the NOAB said.
The NOAB also feels that this policy will impact the future of this industry, including the media’s right to freedom of expression. "Therefore, it was imperative not to rush, but take any such initiative based on the ground reality and after thorough debate and discussion," the NOAB said.