DNPA Conclave 2026: Ashwini Vaishnaw says social media platforms must fairly share revenue with content creators

NEW DELHI: Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw  on Thursday urged social media platforms to share the revenue fairly with the content creators. Further highlighting the shift in digital platform operations, he asserted that platforms must take responsibility for the content they host.

 He said user consent must be mandatory for "all synthetically generated" content and called on digital platforms to take proactive steps to curb cyber fraud Speaking at the Fourth Annual Digital News Publishers Association Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Vaishnaw said, "Platforms must take responsibility of what they are publishing. Times have gone when a platform could say that they are responsible for the content. Those times have gone because the platforms have themselves changed from being pure platforms to becoming hosts to the world.  

They must take the responsibility for the harmful content which is hosted by them.

The minister further said, "I will request all the platforms to rethink their revenue-sharing policies because that is also one of the major concerns that the entire society today is raising. If this is not done voluntarily, then there are so many countries which have shown the path to get it done in a legal way."

Emphasising the importance of trust in democratic systems, Vaishnaw said, “Human society is built upon trust and institutions. 

When human beings created the social structures. They created so many institutions beginning with the institution of family, a social identity, judiciary, media, legislature and a democratic way of coming together and deciding things.”

The Minister also noted that the growth of science and arts depends on respecting original work.

"The people who created copyrights, the people who created the original content, the society grew on the basis of that intellectual property. 

And if that intellectual property is not well respected and not fairly compensated, then the growth of the society, the growth of science, the growth of technology, the growth of arts, the growth of literature, that will all get stunted and the human growth which has happened over past thousands of years will get delayed, will get muted, will get stunted.

That incentive for creating the original work and getting that fair compensation and fair appreciation from sections of the society, from the entire society, must be respected, must be valued," he said. 

Warning that this foundation is under strain, Vaishnaw said, “The way the world is emerging today, that core tenet of trust is under threat. That threat is coming from so many different angles, deepfakes which can make you believe in things which have never happened anywhere.”

“Disinformation barrage which can cause a sense of distrust, which doesn't exist in real life. Creating synthetically generated photos and videos which have absolutely no relation with reality. 

And all that content when it reaches the common citizen. They start questioning the very basic structure of the society. And this is a big threat that every country including India is juggling with these issues now,” he added.

Earlier, DNPA Chairperson and Manorama Online CEO Mariam Mammen Mathew opened the conclave, saying artificial intelligence and rapid shifts in the digital ecosystem are fundamentally reshaping how news is created, distributed, discovered and monetised.

Speaking on the theme she said, "Transformation of Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence is at a critical juncture as AI, evolving data governance norms, shifting platform economics and changing audience behaviour redefine digital journalism."

The DNPA Conclave 2026 brought together policymakers, media leaders and industry experts to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of news, governance and digital innovation. 

As a key industry platform, the conclave featured curated panel discussions and expert-led sessions examining emerging trends, addressing shared challenges and outlining a forward-looking roadmap for India’s digital media ecosystem.

Discussions focused on the evolving regulatory environment governing digital communications and how policy frameworks can balance innovation with consumer protection and industry growth in an AI-driven era. 

Sessions also explored how artificial intelligence is transforming newsroom workflows, content creation, distribution strategies and audience engagement across platforms.

The conclave further examined where audiences are turning for credible information, how trust can be built and sustained, and what constitutes the new public square in a fragmented, platform-led media landscape. The impact of regulatory changes on various stakeholders was also discussed, including who stands to benefit, who bears the costs, and how the ecosystem can remain competitive and inclusive.