DNPA Conclave 2026: Ashwini Vaishnaw says social media platforms must share revenue equitably with content creators | India News

New Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vashno It said on Thursday that user consent must be mandatory for “all synthetically generated” content and called on digital platforms to take proactive measures to curb Internet fraud.Speaking at the 3rd Storyboard18 Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, Vaishnaw said, “Platforms must be responsible for the content they publish. Gone are the days when platforms could say they were responsible for content. Those days are gone because platforms themselves have gone from being mere platforms to hosting the world. They have to take responsibility for the harmful content they host.”““Social media platforms must share revenue equitably with content creators…including remote creators, influencers, professors…must share revenue equitably with content creators,” Vishno said.“All synthetically generated content must have user consent… Platforms must take proactive action against online fraud,” he added.Emphasizing the importance of trust in a democratic system, Vishno said: “Human society is built on trust and institutions. When humans create social structures, they create so many institutions, starting from the family system, social identity, judiciary, media, legislative bodies and the democratic way of coming together and deciding things.”“All of these institutions are built on a basic premise. The premise of trust,” he noted.“That basically means the different sectors of society, the different institutions within society and the individuals who interact with those institutions. They believe institutions operate on certain trust-based principles,” he said.“Mutual trust defines the entire core of this institution,” the Union minister added.Vishno warned that this foundation is under pressure, “The way the world is evolving today, the core principle of trust is under threat. That threat comes from many different angles, and deepfakes can make you believe something that never happened anywhere.”“Intense spread of false information can lead to a sense of distrust that does not exist in real life. Synthetic photos and videos are created that have absolutely no bearing on reality. When all this content reaches common citizens. They start questioning the basic fabric of society. This is a huge threat and every country, including India, is now grappling with these issues,” he added.Earlier, DNPA Chairman and Manorama Online CEO Mariam Mammen Mathew, who opened the conclave, said the rapid transformation of artificial intelligence and digital ecosystems is fundamentally reshaping the way news is created, disseminated, discovered and monetized.Speaking on the subject, she said: “Media transformation in the AI ​​era is at a critical juncture, as AI, evolving data governance norms, changing platform economics and changing audience behavior redefine digital journalism.”The 2026 DNPA Conclave brought together policymakers, media leaders and industry experts to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of journalism, governance and digital innovation. Serving as a premier industry platform, the conclave features curated panel discussions and expert-led sessions to explore emerging trends, address common challenges and outline a forward-looking roadmap for India’s digital media ecosystem.The discussion focused on the changing regulatory environment for digital communications and how policy frameworks can balance innovation with consumer protection and industry growth in an era driven by artificial intelligence. The session also explored how AI is transforming newsroom workflows, content creation, distribution strategies and audience engagement across platforms.The session further explored where audiences seek trusted information, how to build and maintain trust, and what constitutes a new public square in a fragmented, platform-dominated media environment. The meeting also discussed the impact of regulatory changes on various stakeholders, including who benefits, who bears the costs, and how the ecosystem can remain competitive and inclusive.