Yogi Government’s Digital Media Policy: Rewards for Endorsements, Harsh Penalties for Anti-National Content

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Launch a contentious social media strategy.

The Uttar Pradesh government has drafted a groundbreaking social media policy, promising to pay influencers up to Rs 8 lakh per month for promoting state welfare schemes across digital platforms. This policy, however, also enforces severe penalties for the dissemination of content deemed objectionable, including anti-national posts, sparking a heated debate among political circles.

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Under this new directive, the government plans to financially compensate social media influencers on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. The payments will be based on the number of followers or subscribers these influencers command. Simultaneously, the policy introduces stringent measures against individuals or organizations posting offensive material. Legal repercussions loom large for those who contravene these rules.

In a press note signed by Principal Secretary Sanjay Prasad, the government emphasizes that content must adhere to standards of decency, avoiding indecency, obscenity, or any anti-national sentiments. The policy also outlines a vision to create employment opportunities within the digital domain.

Monetary Compensation for Influencers

According to the policy, digital platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube will be incentivized to showcase content related to state government schemes and achievements. Influencers are categorized based on their follower count, with payments ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for accounts on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For YouTube creators, the compensation scales even higher, offering between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh per month depending on the content type, including videos, shorts, and podcasts.

Opposition's Outcry

The Opposition, notably the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, has vehemently criticized this move, accusing the BJP-led government of attempting to muzzle free speech. “The BJP/Yogi administration is prepared to spend vast sums of public funds on those who falsely glorify the government while threatening life imprisonment for those who highlight public grievances on social media,” the Samajwadi Party declared on X. The party vowed that the public would strongly resist this perceived assault on freedom of expression.

Inputs from PTI news network