Platforms Must Share Revenue Fairly With Creators, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called on social media platforms to ensure a fair distribution of revenue for all content creators. Speaking at the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave on Thursday, the Minister emphasized that platforms must fix their current monetization models.
Fair Pay for All Content Creators
Minister Vaishnaw stated that revenue sharing should be equitable for everyone, from large news organizations to independent creators in remote areas.
“Social media platforms must share revenue in a fair way with the people who are creating the content,” Vaishnaw said. He highlighted that this includes:
- Professional journalists and traditional media houses
- Influencers and independent creators in rural regions
- Professors and researchers sharing their work online
He urged platforms to set the principle right, stating that fair payment should be the standard across all digital spaces.
The Growing Threat to Public Trust
During his address, the Minister spoke about the vital role of “trust” in holding society together. He noted that trust is the foundation for the media, the legislature, and the judiciary, but warned that it is currently under threat.
The Minister blamed the rise of deepfakes and disinformation on social media for damaging public faith in reliable institutions.
“The core tenet of trust is under threat,” Vaishnaw explained. He pointed out several specific dangers:
- Deepfakes: Realistic but fake videos of events that never happened.
- Disinformation: The spread of false information to mislead the public.
- Synthetic Content: AI-generated images and videos of respected figures that have no basis in reality.
He warned that when this fake content reaches the general public, it causes people to question the very structure of society.
Platforms Must Take Responsibility
The Minister pushed social media companies to take full responsibility for the content they host. He argued that platforms can no longer remain neutral when their systems are used to spread harmful misinformation.
“Platforms must understand the importance of reinforcing trust in the institutions which human society has created over thousands of years,” he emphasized. He concluded by stating that platforms must take ownership of the content on their sites to protect the integrity of information.
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