📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Staunch.wiki
Politics
J&K Government Drafts Media Policy to Regulate Social Media, Says Sakina Itoo
✍️ Kashmir Life
🗓 30 Sep 2026, 01:32 PM
👁 44
Minister Sakina Itoo told the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly that the state government is preparing a media policy aimed at regulating social‑media platforms.
Sakina Itoo, a senior minister in the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet, informed legislators that the government is in the process of formulating a comprehensive media policy. The draft is expected to set guidelines for the operation of social‑media services within the union territory, addressing concerns such as misinformation, hate speech, and content moderation.
According to Itoo, the policy will be framed after consultations with stakeholders, including technology experts, civil‑society groups and representatives of digital platforms. While the exact timeline was not disclosed, officials indicated that the draft will be presented for debate in the assembly later this year.
The move reflects the administration's broader effort to modernise the regulatory framework for digital communications, aligning it with national standards while addressing region‑specific challenges. No specific provisions have been released yet, and opposition members have asked for clarity on how freedom of expression will be safeguarded.
If approved, the policy could impose new compliance requirements on social‑media companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir, potentially affecting content‑hosting practices and user verification processes. The government has emphasized that the aim is to create a safer online environment without stifling legitimate discourse.
According to Itoo, the policy will be framed after consultations with stakeholders, including technology experts, civil‑society groups and representatives of digital platforms. While the exact timeline was not disclosed, officials indicated that the draft will be presented for debate in the assembly later this year.
The move reflects the administration's broader effort to modernise the regulatory framework for digital communications, aligning it with national standards while addressing region‑specific challenges. No specific provisions have been released yet, and opposition members have asked for clarity on how freedom of expression will be safeguarded.
If approved, the policy could impose new compliance requirements on social‑media companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir, potentially affecting content‑hosting practices and user verification processes. The government has emphasized that the aim is to create a safer online environment without stifling legitimate discourse.