Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government's new digital media policy provides cash rewards to influencers who post and publicise the state government's policies and programmes. It also provides for punishment, including life imprisonment, for anti-national posts.
The new digital media police received the approval of the state cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In a statement, State Secretary Sanjay Prasad said the objective of the Digital Media Policy 2024 is to create awareness among the people about the government's programmes and achievements and their benefits.
He said that the government advertisements would be given to designated companies/agencies to spread government programmes and achievements on social media platforms like ‘X’, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
“This measure will help the state’s residents living in other parts of the country and abroad to find employment,” he added.
The policy provided for a cash reward of up to Rs 800,000 per month for social media influencers, with a minimum amount of Rs 200,000.
The content providers were divided into four categories. The agencies or companies were also divided based on their subscribers and followers on various social media platforms.
The directive also provided for legal action against the companies, agencies and others if they were found to have published “anti-national, obscene and indecent” content.
According to the sources, the directive provided for a penalty ranging from three years in prison to life imprisonment for anti-national content.
The digital media policy was adopted after BJP state leaders said at the recently held state executive meeting that the party would not be able to counter the “propaganda” of its rivals on the issue of constitutional amendment if it came to power.
Published August 28, 2024, 1:35 p.m. IS
