The Three Farm Laws in the Age of New Media: An Analysis of Digital Discourse

Abstract

With the introduction of new media platforms, public debate has taken on a whole new form. Diverse perspectives are now encouraged to participate in discussions on socio-political issues and information is disseminated quickly. On 19 November 2021, the Prime Minister through his televised address to the citizens of this country announced that farm laws were to be repealed due to multiple factors including the unending protest against the laws, violence, conflicts, various disagreements, the time period of the protest and the elections in Punjab.  The study aims to analyse the three farm laws, through digital discourse, that were introduced in the parliament by the government of India in September 2020 with the intention of freeing the trade in agricultural produce for farmers, to examine the effects, difficulties, and consequences of these laws on farmers, rural economies, and the larger community, with an emphasis on the agricultural landscape. This paper focuses on how these laws are portrayed, received, and used on different online platforms to understand the extent of misinformation, algorithmic biases, and internet echo chambers in polarizing the views of people about agricultural policy.