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Politics
Jammu & Kashmir government proposes media policy to curb online news platforms
✍️ Exchange4Media
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 08:46 PM
👁 17
The Jammu & Kashmir administration has drafted a media policy aimed at regulating digital news outlets, outlining licensing and content guidelines for online platforms.
Srinagar – The Jammu & Kashmir government has unveiled a draft media policy that seeks to bring online news portals under a regulatory framework. The proposal, circulated among media stakeholders, outlines a licensing regime for digital news outlets and sets standards for content verification, user privacy and grievance redressal.
Key provisions call for all online news platforms operating in the union territory to obtain a licence from the state media authority, submit periodic compliance reports, and adhere to a code of conduct that prohibits hate speech, misinformation and content that threatens public order. The policy also mandates the appointment of a designated compliance officer within each platform to liaise with regulators.
The draft has been sent to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for review, and a public consultation period of 30 days has been announced. Officials say the move aims to balance press freedom with the need to curb the spread of false information online, while industry bodies have urged clarity on the licensing criteria and timelines.
Key provisions call for all online news platforms operating in the union territory to obtain a licence from the state media authority, submit periodic compliance reports, and adhere to a code of conduct that prohibits hate speech, misinformation and content that threatens public order. The policy also mandates the appointment of a designated compliance officer within each platform to liaise with regulators.
The draft has been sent to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for review, and a public consultation period of 30 days has been announced. Officials say the move aims to balance press freedom with the need to curb the spread of false information online, while industry bodies have urged clarity on the licensing criteria and timelines.