New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, India Today Group has reportedly issued a social media gag order on all employees including full time, part time, consultant, retainer and even third party.
The gag order, which was issued in an internal memo accessed by news site Adgully, will remain active for two months.
As per the memo, all personnel in contract with India Today Group are to use their personal social media handles to post content or promotion that belongs to the Group that has been used in print, digital or air and retweet what is posted from the Group’s own handles.
For non-compliance, the Group will use disciplinary action including termination of the employee to enforce the new directive.
According to the memo, the directive has been issued to avoid needless controversies on social media.
Notably, India Today Group has recently been in the headlines over involvement in the TRP scam case. However, the link of this incident to the gag order is uncertain.
The advisory ends with a clarification that “this is not, by any means, a breach of your right to expression or freedom of the press”. Any employees with queries on the new policy can approach the Editor and HR of India Today Group.
