Press Releases
-Amidst growing concerns around lack of transparency, accountability and rights of users related to digital media and after elaborate consultation with the public and stakeholders, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 has been framed in supersession of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011. These Rules substantially empower the ordinary users of digital platforms to seek redressal for their grievances and command accountability in case of infringement of their rights. Salient features of the rules include:
-Social media platforms are welcome to do business in India but they need to follow the Constitution and laws of India.
-Social media platform can certainly be used for asking questions and criticise.
-Social media platforms have empowered ordinary users but they need accountability against its misuse and abuse.
-The new Rules empower ordinary users of social media, embodying a mechanism for redressal and timely resolution of their grievance.
-Rules about digital media and OTT focuses more on in house and self-regulation mechanism whereby a robust grievance redressal mechanism has been provided while upholding journalistic and creative freedom.
-The proposed framework is progressive, liberal and contemporaneous. It seeks to address peoples’ varied concerns while removing any misapprehension about curbing creativity and freedom of speech and expression.
-The guidelines have been framed keeping in mind the difference between viewership in a theatre and television as compared to watching it on Internet.
