Press Freedom Erodes in India and South Asia

Press Freedom Erodes in India and South Asia

Why in the News ?

The 23rd Annual South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25 has raised concerns over India’s shrinking media freedom, flagging the systemic weakening of independent journalism, proliferation of disinformation, and increased state surveillance, censorship, and legal harassment of journalists across South Asia.

India’s Media Under Pressure :

• Indian media is “shackled” and facing a systemic strategy to weaken it.
• Concerns include a trust deficit, choking of independent websites, and challenges posed by AI to gig journalists.
• Self-censorship is rising due to legal harassment under laws like UAPA, PMLA, defamation, and sedition.
• IT raids, police cases, and withholding of government ads are being used to intimidate media.

Regional Overview and Violence Against Journalists

• The report covers India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Maldives.
• Pakistan was marked as authoritarian, witnessing its most violent year for journalists with 8 killings.
• Example from India: Mukesh Chandrakar was abducted, murdered, and buried, highlighting impunity.

• Most South Asian countries failed to curb crimes against journalists or ensure accountability.

Disinformation, Challenges and Opportunities

• Highlights proliferation of disinformation with political IT cells playing a major role.
• The Global Risks Report 2024 cited manipulated information as the biggest short-term global risk.
• Other issues: shrinking media jobs, AI-led content creation, decline in ad revenue, and freelance insecurity.
• Yet, digital media offers hope through alternative platforms countering legacy stagnation.