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ITRules

ITRules

Big Relief! Supreme Court Stays Notification Constituting Fact-Check Unit!

In a small win for press freedom, Supreme Court has stayed the notification of Union Government operationalising the Fact-Check Unit under Information Technology Rules, 2021, till the constitutionality of the same is finally decided by Bombay HC.
23 March, 2024
5 min read
Radhika RoyRadhika Roy
IT Rules

Bangladesh's Proposed Regulation = Indian IT Rules, 2021. Overreaching, invasive and suppressive.

The regulator in Bangladesh invited comments on draft rules which are similar to IT Rules, 2021. In response, IFF has submitted a report which details India's experience with IT Rules, 2021.
14 March, 2022
3 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat
MeitY
Featured

Factcheck! The IT Rules 2021 FAQ

MEITY has published Frequently Asked Questions to ‘bring clarity’ to IT Rules, 21. We separate the Facts from the Claims made in the FAQ document.
02 November, 2021
7 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat & Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
compliance
Featured

#SocialMediaComplianceWatch: analysis of Social Media Compliance Reports of July, 2021

We analyse the transparency reports submitted by Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
22 September, 2021
7 min read
Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra
Madras HC
Featured

May threaten 'independence of media' and violate freedom of speech: Madras HC on the IT Rules

Madras High Court finds merit in Mr Krishna’s contention that Part II of the Rules violated the right to speech, and held that any action taken under Rule 3 read with Rule 7 shall be subject to the decision in the petition. The Court has also affirmed the previous stay on Rule 9.
17 September, 2021
6 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat, Anandita MishraAnandita Mishra & Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
Access to Information
Featured

MeitY blocks information about Actor Sushant Singh’s account takedown

Twitter unilaterally and arbitrarily suspended the account of Sushant Singh (@sushant_says) twice, i.e. on February 1 and May 26, 2021. We helped him file RTI requests with the Meity, DoT and MHA. Meity invoked the 2009 Blocking Rules and the RTI Act to deny information to Mr. Singh.
30 August, 2021
5 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
IFF Explainer
Featured

Bombay High Court stays the operation of Rule 9(1) and Rule 9(3) of IT Rules, 2021

The Court found these rules, which prescribed a Code of Ethics and a 3-tier grievance redressal mechanism, to be prima facie violative of Article 19(1)(a) and beyond the rule-making power conferred by the Parliament on the Government.
17 August, 2021
6 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat
ITRules
Featured

The Government again seeks time to respond to Mr T.M. Krishna’s petition

In proceedings instituted by Mr TM Krishna, challenging the validity of IT Rules, 2021, the Madras High Court directed the government to explain why appropirate action should not be taken against those responsible for the delay in their filing. The case is now listed for 13th August 2021.
11 August, 2021
4 min read
Krishnesh BapatKrishnesh Bapat
big tech
Featured

Big Tech releases its transparency reports in compliance with the IT Rules: Here’s what we found

Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter have released their transparency reports in compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (the 2021 IT Rules).
16 July, 2021
6 min read
Tanmay SinghTanmay Singh
Censorship
Featured

Was your handle blocked without warning? Here’s what you can do.

Incidents of arbitrary censorship of online speech have significantly risen in the recent past. We are frequently asked what can be done if one’s account is blocked. We have prepared a step by step explainer to navigate situations of arbitrary account blockings.
12 July, 2021
5 min read
YashaswiniYashaswini

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