NEW DELHI — The Digital Media Policy 2024 approved by the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday proposing punishment for criticism and payment for the advertisement of the government has drawn flak from opposition leaders.

According to a statement issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad, the Uttar Pradesh government will take strict action against agencies and firms for uploading content on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, which deems to be “objectionable”. “The content must not be obscene, offensive and anti-national under any situation,” reads the statement.

Under the new policy, posting anti-national content is a serious offence carrying stiff action including penalties ranging from three years in prison to a life term. Earlier, such actions were addressed under Sections 66E and 66F of the Information Technology (IT) Act, which dealt with privacy violations and cyberterrorism, respectively.

The new policy also has proposed payments for influencers, account holders, and operators on social media platforms if they advertise content related to the government. For X, Facebook, and Instagram, the maximum monthly payment limits are set at Rs 5 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh, respectively. On YouTube, the payment limits for videos, shots, and podcasts are Rs 8 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, Rs 6 lakh, and Rs 4 lakh, respectively.

The policy is being seen as a move to curtail freedom of expression and criticism of the government. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi termed it as an attempt by the Yogi Adityanath government to cover up its failures.

“To cover up its failures @myogiadityanath has started a new scheme. Under this scheme, one can earn up to 8 lakh rupees by falsely praising Baba on social media. If you even legally oppose Baba or his party, you will be declared anti-national and sent to jail. Now the IT Cell people will run their household with your tax money,” he wrote.