HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms • Hacker News Board

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#91

Post by rtx » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:03 PM UTC

damnencryption wrote: post #72

factorialboy wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that they cannot carry out their ops without foreign investment is clear indication that the business was unsustainable. > I think the fundamental outlined in the article is "Narendra Modi government’s new foreign direct investment norms for digital media," and not described in relation to revenue. That's an opinion piece. The fact is they shut down operations. And if the reason is lack of foreign investment, t…

How many big startups/companies in India are making enough profit to self sustain themselves currently? Jio, swiggy, Zomato, Tata motors, Amazon, flipkart, ola, big basket, oyo, Paytm, and the list goes on. Maybe we should shut them all down.

None who can meddle in elections through news pieces.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#92

Post by rtx » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:05 PM UTC

Dahoon wrote: post #60

fakeyguy wrote: post #26

I can't say I am sad to see this. we have been seeing a lot of propaganda-type articles in some foreign owned media outlets. And given the China threat that is looming, it was expected.

There no more a "China threat" than there's a "US threat". Stop spreading FUD on HN. Also "China" is like "America". Geography, not countries.

They recently killed 20 Indian soldiers.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#93

Post by newswasboring » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:07 PM UTC

naruvimama wrote: post #17

If I had to fund a media organisation in a foreign country which only runs losses. Either I am a philanthropist or more likely have a sinister motive. Several foreign dictatorships are heavily invested in controlling the media narrative in India. This was perhaps triggered by the war with China. India's liberal foreign ownership gives China a one way strategic advantage.

China is not going to influence India through news channels, they will do it through pop media like tiktok. And banning those channels will just garner more outrage and discord. Its a win win situation for them. Even if there is an indian alternative to tiktok there is nothing stopping them from posting ridiculous divisive stuff there. Its quite clear that is already happening with America (done by Russia is the suspicion).

If this is your solution to fight against stuff like that, then GoI has brought a knife to a missile fight.

(BTW, its not like they don't understand this playbook, BJP uses it itself.)

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#94

Post by naruvimama » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:11 PM UTC

For people comparing with Europe, please be informed about the "compulsory media licenses" in many of these countries.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#95

Post by newswasboring » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:20 PM UTC

AntiImperialist wrote: post #48

mulmen wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Didn't the WHO literally do a house call to the entire country of India in their ultimately successful quest to eradicate smallpox? I wouldn't rush to condemn international aid. You put scare quotes around both aid and news. Neither of these things are inherently bad. Misinformation is the threat, not simply foreign information. Government control of media is not a remedy to misinformation. In fact it is frequently a…

Any country that tries to pull back from the rest of the world will suffer in comparison. Well, China has greatly benefited from doing exactly that. They greatly regulate and control foreign influence while they exert their influence every where they can. India is a big rival and they have been funding everything from the Naxalites (the underground Indian communist organization) to mainstream parties, organizations,…

two things here

1. Just because they did it and were successful doesn't mean everyone who does it will be successful. They did a thousand other things which will never happen in India. Like being a technocratic society which punishes corruption quite publicly.

2. Just because they were successful doesn't mean that is the only way to do it.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#96

Post by newswasboring » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:23 PM UTC

AntiImperialist wrote: post #59

bobthepanda wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A good level of skepticism is a healthy check on corruption. People (for now) in the minority opposition should have some voice, it'd be odd if there weren't opposition outlets to say anything contrary. The powers that be protects people's rights, until they don't, and you don't want to be the proverbial frog in the pot coming to a boil.

I agree. However, I don't think we have a choice. At this point, the only two choices seem to be either to be governed by a tyrannical government fueled by national interests or a tyrannical government controlled by foreign interests. I believe in decentralization of power, a structure where the governed are closer to those who govern them. I think this leads to people in power having more skin in the game.

We are a parliamentary democracy, we already have decentralization. We willingly let go because of the false dichotomy you present.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#97

Post by naruvimama » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:25 PM UTC

square_usual wrote: post #49

manifestdissent wrote: post #47

The nationalism in these comments isn’t surprising. But it is disappointing. Several comments are implying that HuffPo is an influence operation or conspiracy... ??? There’s a clear boogeyman (the Chinese) and a grand arching conspiracy stopping the country from being great. This is fascism 101

From personal experience, most Indians in the tech space are conservative-leaning. I don't network a lot, but I do talk to people enough to know that "liberal" in the western sense is a very rare viewpoint in this industry. E: I should mention that I am Indian.

You are the one labelling them, different countries have different histories.

People usually labelled "Hindu right wing" by the english media have nothing in common with the western idea of conservative.

They are strongly pluralistic, believe in smaller communities and tribes preserving their identity, nature loving, sympathetic to vegetarianism, not homophobic, not against abortion, strong believers in climate change and eco friendly policies.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#98

Post by naruvimama » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:36 PM UTC

throw93 wrote: post #20

Whether HuffPost was popular in India is besides the point. To provide some contrast, the same govt amended a law originally designed to prohibit foreign funding of political parties and changed it to allow funding from local companies which have more than 50% foreign ownership. So basically political parties can indirectly accept foreign funds through above loophole which the ruling party itself created but news org…

> Whether HuffPost was popular in India is besides the point

It is central, if they were popular and making money or if they were popular and have a wonderful future prospects, they wouldn't have to be propped up.

And whoever is funding it could be motivated by not so charitable reasons.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#99

Post by puranjay » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:36 PM UTC

FlyingSnake wrote: post #67

manifestdissent wrote: post #47

The nationalism in these comments isn’t surprising. But it is disappointing. Several comments are implying that HuffPo is an influence operation or conspiracy... ??? There’s a clear boogeyman (the Chinese) and a grand arching conspiracy stopping the country from being great. This is fascism 101

I find it highly amusing that the same HN hivemind that rallied behind Peter Thiel's takedown of Gawker are calling a legal move by a sovereign democratic country fascism. Perhaps we need to drop this western gaze when analyzing events in the East? > They(Gawker) have no moral high ground, noble principles, or higher purpose. They're scum, and it's pure karma that they're being destroyed by someone they outed.[1^] [^…

As an Indian, I'm just disappointed that we seem to have wholeheartedly chosen a side - USA - in the upcoming Cold War 2.0 instead of staying a bit more neutral. I don't think we chose well.

Re: HuffPost India is history, thanks to new FDI norms

#100

Post by naruvimama » Wed, Nov 25, 2020, 12:42 PM UTC

manifestdissent wrote: post #47

The nationalism in these comments isn’t surprising. But it is disappointing. Several comments are implying that HuffPo is an influence operation or conspiracy... ??? There’s a clear boogeyman (the Chinese) and a grand arching conspiracy stopping the country from being great. This is fascism 101

"Fascism" is a strong word, I hope people can be a bit careful with using it.

It is not like these comments are supporting the beheading or stoning to death of journalists or trying to protect grooming gangs or institutions involved in child sex scandals.