The Jammu and Kashmir government is in the process of developing new policy guidelines aimed at regulating the burgeoning number of social media journalists operating within the region. This initiative was disclosed to the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, signaling a significant move to address concerns surrounding the conduct and accountability of individuals utilizing social media platforms for journalistic purposes.
Responding to an inquiry posed by National Conference (NC) MLA Bashir Veeri, Minister Sakina Itoo informed the Assembly that a dedicated House Committee, established to scrutinize this matter, has allocated a four-month timeframe for the Information Department to formulate these comprehensive new guidelines. The committee, under the leadership of senior MLA and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, convened on July 13, 2026, to deliberate on the evolving media landscape. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the impetus for these regulations stems from widespread apprehension among elected representatives regarding the unverified and often unregulated nature of content disseminated by self-proclaimed social media journalists.
Several members of the Assembly voiced their concerns, emphasizing the rapid proliferation of individuals acting as journalists through social media channels and advocating for the implementation of stringent regulatory measures. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather recalled his earlier directive during the Budget Session, urging the government to undertake a thorough examination of media operations and to establish guidelines for taking appropriate action against those who transgress legal boundaries. NC MLA Nazir Gurezi articulated a common sentiment, stating that the current environment allows virtually anyone with a mobile phone to assume the role of a journalist, leading to potential misuse of social media platforms and necessitating some form of regulation. PDP MLA Waheed Para, however, cautioned against measures that could be perceived as censorship, emphasizing the need to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with a balanced approach.
Minister Itoo acknowledged the critical role of the media, both print and electronic, in a democratic society, stating, “Without the media — whether print or electronic — we are incomplete; there is no two ways about it.” However, she also conceded that the current media environment presents certain shortcomings. She further suggested that legislators themselves bear some responsibility in the current scenario, noting the practice of keeping close associates to photograph events for subsequent publication. “We keep our close associates around to photograph everything here so that the pictures can be published outside later. We cannot place the entire blame on media personnel alone,” Itoo stated, as reported by the Assembly proceedings.
The minister highlighted instances where social media pages were allegedly created and operated under dubious pretenses. She revealed that a member of the Assembly had reportedly opened a social media page under the name of his wife’s maid. “There are some honourable members — I will not take names — an honourable member has created a page under the name of his wife’s maid. If you were to look at that page, truly, I believe even the devil would feel ashamed. The things written on that page, the nature of the criticism, the foul language directed at ministers… and if all of that is deemed acceptable, then how can we stand here and put the entire blame solely on the media?” she questioned, underscoring the perceived hypocrisy and the need for broader accountability.
Minister Itoo pointed to the pervasive use of social media for character assassination and mud-slinging, assigning a significant degree of responsibility to political parties. “Those who have turned into mobile and Facebook media stoop to slandering anyone’s character whenever they wish, taking less than two minutes to demean someone’s dignity. And in this, if anyone is most responsible, it is the political parties,” she asserted. She also drew attention to pages operated by political parties themselves, where, according to her, individuals’ dignity is often severely compromised with virtually no oversight. “You will see how an individual’s dignity is shredded to pieces. There is zero regulation over it. And yet you say our brothers in the media are in the wrong. They may be wrong as well; I do not deny that, because nowadays genuine, accredited media persons are few, while the number of self-styled Facebook media pages is huge,” she added.
In light of these concerns, the minister proposed that members and journalists should potentially be prohibited from carrying mobile phones inside the Assembly premises. She assured the House that the Information Department is committed to introducing a comprehensive policy that will encompass clear rules, regulations, and a mechanism for proper scrutiny. “Following that, if anyone is found guilty of malpractice, strict action must be taken against them,” she concluded, emphasizing the government’s resolve to address the challenges posed by the unregulated social media landscape.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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