Vaishnaw Urges Platforms on Revenue Sharing, Deepfake Rules

In New Delhi on Thursday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called on digital platforms to ensure fair revenue sharing with content creators and to assume greater responsibility for the material they host, warning that failure to address emerging threats like deepfakes could erode public trust in key institutions.

Speaking at the Digital News Publishers Association Conclave, Vaishnaw emphasized that platforms, which have evolved from neutral intermediaries into influential media entities, must prioritize online safety for all users, particularly children. He highlighted the need for proactive measures against cybercrimes, including illegal content that incites harm or spreads obscenity. "Platforms must take responsibility for the content that is hosted by them," Vaishnaw said. "The online safety of children and all citizens is the responsibility of the platforms."

A central theme of his address was equitable revenue distribution. Vaishnaw argued that creators, including journalists, traditional media organizations, influencers, professors, researchers, and individuals from remote areas, deserve a just share of the income generated from their work. He...