Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issues advisory on surrogate advertisements of online betting platforms | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issues advisory on surrogate advertisements of online betting platforms

    Posted 22 Mar 2024

    2 min read

    • Key highlights
      • Influencers on social media must refrain from promoting offshore online betting and gambling platforms in any form, including surrogate advertisements.
        • Surrogate advertisements are substitute advertisement for goods which cannot be directly advertised due to prohibition of law.
      • Online advertisement intermediaries are advised against targeting such content to the Indian audience.
      • Non-compliance may result in proceedings under Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

     

    • Earlier regulating provisions for the same:
      • Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
        • It focussed on clear disclaimers and advertising targeting children.
      • IT Act's Section 79 exempts intermediaries but mandates removal of unlawful content upon notification.
      • Ministry of Information & Broadcasting can order intermediaries to remove illegal ads.
      • Consumer Protection Act, 2019 enables action against stakeholders promoting illegal activities in ads.

     

    • Concerns:
      • Addictive behaviour, social detachment, and emerging cybercrime trends.
      • Regulatory ambiguity, money laundering and cyber-attacks.

     

    • Way forward: Strict monitoring, awareness campaigns, collaboration with social media platforms, celebrity engagement, and partnerships for responsible online behaviour to address online betting and gambling concerns.

     

    Legal Provisions for gambling and betting: 

    • Seventh Schedule Entry 34 empowers states to regulate Betting, and Gambling.
    • Public Gambling Act, 1867, Lotteries Regulation Act, 1998, and FEMA, 1999 are central laws governing gambling and income.
    • Finance Ministry imposes GST on online money gaming, casinos, and horse racing.
    • Tags :
    • Online betting
    • Gambling
    • surrogate advertisements
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