New IT Rules: What you need to know.

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New IT Rules: What you need to know.

Today, we're going to talk about the new IT rules that have been recently introduced in India.

So, what are these rules?

They are a set of guidelines and regulations that govern the digital media in India. These rules were introduced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and they aim to regulate online content and social media platforms.

The rules require social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on to appoint a grievance officer, nodal contact person and a chief compliance officer, who are all residents of India. There are also required to have a physical office in India.

The rules also require social media platforms to take down certain types of content within 36 hours of receiving a complaint. The types of content that are required to be taken down include content that is defamatory, obscene, or harmful to national security.

The rules also require social media platforms to provide information to the government regarding the originator of any particular message or post. This provision has raised concerns about user privacy and surveillance.

Many social media platforms have expressed concerns about the rules, stating that they could undermine freedom of speech and expression. However, the Indian government has defended the rules, stating that they are unnecessary to combat fake news and hate speech.

Overall, the new IT rules have stirred up a lot of controversy in India. While some people believe that they are necessary to regulate digital media, others are concerned about the potential impact on freedom of speech and user privacy.

Why Laws regarding Social Media are required?

In India, media is considered a fourth pillar of democracy. Since the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government are adopting the same framework as India’s regulatory system. Although certain controls for the press are absolutely important, there are currently no specific regulations in India. Although we can see in the Constitution that there is no specific section on the media, this is just under article 19(1)(a) of freedom of expression.

As we are living in a highly technology-driven world where information travels quickly and is unaffected by distance, thus the media must play a constructive role. One false or inaccurate report might have a negative impact on society, spark riots, or incite hatred among the populace. It is the responsibility of the media to provide the truth in India, where people of many cultures and religions coexist, but also abstain from spreading false information and politicizing stories to raise popularity. It is very necessary to have certain reasonable restriction, which stops any media personnel from creating hatred, and communal problems but also safeguards his/her freedom of speech and expression.

Current Social Media rules in India.

The Information Technology Act

Section 66 (a):

According to this section, if any person who sends a message by any means of communication device any information that is offensive and if specially created to annoy, spread hatred, criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to a term of three years and fine.

Section 69 (a):

This section says that government has the right to ban or stop public access to any information that is not consistent with provisions of the government, and this section also provides the procedure of blocking access of the public to certain information. Who doesn’t comply with this provision will be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to pay a fine.

Conclusion

Because we live in an era where technology is advanced, social media usage has increased dramatically. Research shows that consumers spend an average of 142 minutes per day on social media. With the rise of social media, it is essential to establish an expert legislative framework to control it, protect users from abuse and prevent cyberbullying. Finally, we could add that "social media has the potential to either negatively impact or positively influence society, and thus it may be necessary to implement some form of control or regulation to ensure that its impact remains positive.”

“©Amit Swami Nohar”

email: amitswaminohar@gmail.com

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