The Meghalaya State commission for Protection of Child Rights on March 25, 2022 has issued a notification regarding the guidelines for media houses to air news/programmes pertaining to minors because of the exponential rise of cases of harassment and societal stigmatisation of the child and the family members involved in the videos especially when it is related to POSCO and any other incidences which negatively impacts on the rights of the child and when these cases/events are discussed publicly and in an objectionable manner in the comment sections of such websites.
The guidelines are as followed:
• Any program being broadcasted through any form of media (electronic or print) should maintain utmost caution so as not to infringe upon the privacy, dignity and identity of the child in any manner whatsoever.
• Any videos being uploaded or which has been uploaded in YouTube or any other video sharing platforms inclusive of the News channel's websites, are to follow the YouTube Child safety policy and the Digital Media Ethics Code laid down in the aforementioned Rules and Acts and further 'ARE TO MANDATORILY DISABLE THE COMMENT SECTION' and failing to do so would attract legal penalties under Section 67B and Section 72 of IT Act and Section 23 of POCSO Act 2012 and others relevant laws of the land.
