Mumbai Press Club criticises Maharashtra plan to set up media monitoring centre

Move undermines press freedom

A media monitoring centre to track news content has sparked criticism, with the Mumbai Press Club warning that the Maharashtra government’s move could undermine press freedom by classifying reports as “positive” or “negative.”

The Maharashtra government’s decision to establish a media monitoring centre has drawn sharp reactions from journalist bodies, with the Mumbai Press Club expressing serious concerns over its implications for press freedom.

In a press statement, the Mumbai Press Club says that the proposed centre will track news content across print, television, digital, and social media, categorising reports as “positive” or “negative” towards the government.

It adds that a government resolution (GR) outlining the centre’s scope has raised concerns about potential misuse. Without clear definitions, criticism of government policies could be labelled as “negative” and possibly conflated with misinformation.

Mumbai Press Club warns that this could lead to indirect censorship by discouraging critical reporting.

It adds that the move also echoes a broader debate on the government’s role in regulating news. A similar attempt by the central government to establish a Fact Checking Unit (FCU) under amended IT rules was struck down by the Bombay High Court, citing concerns over press freedom and potential censorship.

It further adds that legal and media experts have pointed out that a government monitoring body assessing the credibility of reports about itself presents a conflict of interest.

The journalists’ association has urged the state government to reconsider the initiative, highlighting the need for independent mechanisms to address misinformation without restricting journalistic scrutiny.