India’s New It Rules: An Analysis In The Background Of Fundamental Rights And Cyber Jurisdiction

Sayani Pal, BBA.LLB (Hons.), Faculty of Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University

INTRODUCTION:

In February 2021, the Union Government passed the Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. OTT platforms and social media platforms are generally covered by these guidelines. The national government claims that these rules are solely in place to provide "greater protection" to Indian citizens. These new IT Rules include measures for controlling intermediaries and preventing them from engaging in illegal activities, as well as new elements such as text traceability and the first originator of a piece of content.

It also allows OTTs and major social media platforms to organized the committees to handle complaints about the content or any obscene messages. The purpose of these guidelines is to establish a reliable complaint procedure. This section also emphasises the protection of women and children from abuse, as well as the prevention of child pornography.

With these New IT Rules, India joins the international regimes of developed countries around the world in controlling digital media regulations and providing a complete framework to protect digital media consumers.