Journalist body alarmed by Maharashtra’s use of AI to monitor media
| 2025-07-30
Journalist body alarmed by Maharashtra’s use of AI to monitor media
Maharashtra’s plan to use AI to track and rate media coverage as “positive” or “negative” prompts warnings over press freedom and editorial independence.
Maharashtra government criticised for AI-driven media monitoring plan
A state government in India has announced plans to deploy artificial intelligence to monitor and classify media coverage, drawing concern from press freedom advocates who warn the move could undermine journalistic independence.
Maharashtra, India’s second-most populous state, will allocate 100 million rupees (approximately US$1.2 million) to create a media monitoring centre that will track news reports across print, broadcast, digital, and social media platforms. According to official documents issued on 6 March, the system will label coverage of the state government as either “positive” or “negative”.
A private consultancy will be hired to analyse content and prepare regular reports for state authorities.
Press watchdog warns of chilling effect
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international media rights group, has expressed alarm over the implications of the initiative.
“This AI-driven media monitoring plan raises serious concerns about press freedom and the potential for government overreach,” said CPJ’s Asia Programme Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “The government’s intention to monitor and pursue media outlets producing news that it classifies as ‘negative’ could increase the risk of self-censorship and deter journalists from investing in critical reporting.”
CPJ has called on Maharashtra authorities to consult with journalists and media associations to ensure the system does not compromise editorial freedom or discourage legitimate scrutiny of government actions.
The Maharashtra government has not issued detailed guidance on how the AI will function, what criteria it will use, or how the reports will be used. An email from CPJ requesting further information from the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations reportedly went unanswered.
Chief Minister defends initiative
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the plan, saying it is not intended to control the media but to provide accurate context and facts to journalists producing critical reports.
“The aim is not to suppress the press but to give the truth about it—or the facts—to those who write negative news,” he told local media.
However, critics have raised questions about how the state will define “negative” coverage and whether the process could influence how journalists approach reporting on governance and public policy.
Legal and political backdrop
The move comes amid wider concerns about press freedom and digital content regulation in India. In 2023, the central government launched a fact-checking unit empowered to order the removal of online posts it deemed “fake, false, or misleading” if related to government operations. The Bombay High Court later struck down the initiative as unconstitutional, stating that it risked violating free speech protections.
India has frequently ranked low in global press freedom indices. While the constitution guarantees freedom of expression, journalists have faced growing legal, political, and physical threats in recent years. Media watchdogs and civil society groups have warned that expanding government involvement in regulating content—particularly through opaque mechanisms—could erode trust and stifle democratic debate.
Concerns over AI and editorial autonomy
The use of artificial intelligence in content monitoring is not unique to India, but critics argue that without transparent guidelines and independent oversight, such tools can reinforce existing biases or be misused for political purposes.
Analysts have also pointed out the risks of allowing private consultancies to classify journalistic output, especially when reporting involves complex political or social issues that cannot easily be reduced to positive or negative categories.
If implemented as described, Maharashtra’s media tracking project would mark one of the most formalised uses of AI for political media analysis at the state level in India.
Next steps uncertain
It remains unclear when the new media centre will become operational or whether the state government will release additional details on safeguards or appeal mechanisms for journalists who disagree with the classifications.
Advocates have urged transparency, public consultation, and clear limitations to ensure that media monitoring efforts do not become a tool for soft censorship.
As the debate continues, observers say the broader concern is whether press freedom in India—already under strain—can remain resilient in the face of advancing surveillance technologies and increasingly centralised control over public information.
A state government in India has announced plans to deploy artificial intelligence to monitor and classify media coverage, drawing concern from press freedom advocates who warn the move could undermine journalistic independence.
Maharashtra, India’s second-most populous state, will allocate 100 million rupees (approximately US$1.2 million) to create a media monitoring centre that will track news reports across print, broadcast, digital, and social media platforms. According to official documents issued on 6 March, the system will label coverage of the state government as either “positive” or “negative”.
A private consultancy will be hired to analyse content and prepare regular reports for state authorities.
Press watchdog warns of chilling effect
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international media rights group, has expressed alarm over the implications of the initiative.
“This AI-driven media monitoring plan raises serious concerns about press freedom and the potential for government overreach,” said CPJ’s Asia Programme Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “The government’s intention to monitor and pursue media outlets producing news that it classifies as ‘negative’ could increase the risk of self-censorship and deter journalists from investing in critical reporting.”
CPJ has called on Maharashtra authorities to consult with journalists and media associations to ensure the system does not compromise editorial freedom or discourage legitimate scrutiny of government actions.
The Maharashtra government has not issued detailed guidance on how the AI will function, what criteria it will use, or how the reports will be used. An email from CPJ requesting further information from the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations reportedly went unanswered.
Chief Minister defends initiative
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the plan, saying it is not intended to control the media but to provide accurate context and facts to journalists producing critical reports.
“The aim is not to suppress the press but to give the truth about it—or the facts—to those who write negative news,” he told local media.
However, critics have raised questions about how the state will define “negative” coverage and whether the process could influence how journalists approach reporting on governance and public policy.
Legal and political backdrop
The move comes amid wider concerns about press freedom and digital content regulation in India. In 2023, the central government launched a fact-checking unit empowered to order the removal of online posts it deemed “fake, false, or misleading” if related to government operations. The Bombay High Court later struck down the initiative as unconstitutional, stating that it risked violating free speech protections.
India has frequently ranked low in global press freedom indices. While the constitution guarantees freedom of expression, journalists have faced growing legal, political, and physical threats in recent years. Media watchdogs and civil society groups have warned that expanding government involvement in regulating content—particularly through opaque mechanisms—could erode trust and stifle democratic debate.
Concerns over AI and editorial autonomy
The use of artificial intelligence in content monitoring is not unique to India, but critics argue that without transparent guidelines and independent oversight, such tools can reinforce existing biases or be misused for political purposes.
Analysts have also pointed out the risks of allowing private consultancies to classify journalistic output, especially when reporting involves complex political or social issues that cannot easily be reduced to positive or negative categories.
If implemented as described, Maharashtra’s media tracking project would mark one of the most formalised uses of AI for political media analysis at the state level in India.
Next steps uncertain
It remains unclear when the new media centre will become operational or whether the state government will release additional details on safeguards or appeal mechanisms for journalists who disagree with the classifications.
Advocates have urged transparency, public consultation, and clear limitations to ensure that media monitoring efforts do not become a tool for soft censorship.
As the debate continues, observers say the broader concern is whether press freedom in India—already under strain—can remain resilient in the face of advancing surveillance technologies and increasingly centralised control over public information.