No proposal to review new IT rules: Government

NEW DELHI: Reiterating its stand that the new IT rules do not infringe the right to privacy and the freedom of expression, the government on Wednesday told Parliament that there is no proposal to review them. The Centre notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on February 25, superseding the erstwhile Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrashekhar said that these rules were a result of public consultations, comments and suggestions received during stakeholders' meetings and are used in bringing accountability of these intermediaries to their users.

"There is no proposal with ministry to review the rules," he said. The rules also prescribe additional due diligence to be followed by significant social media intermediaries.

"Freedom of speech and expression is a constitutionally guaranteed right to citizens under Article 19(1) with restraints as stated in Article 19(2). These fundamental rights cannot be infringed by anybody," he said. (IANS)

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