The Union Government on Friday categorically said it does not have any plan to bring a separate law to regulate the digital media. “The government is not considering any such law,” Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The written submission was made in response to a series of queries of member Kartikeya Sharma.
Stating that the present laws under Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 202 are adequate to regulate the digital media, the minister said, “These rules cast specific obligation on intermediaries to observe diligence and provide that if they fail to observe such diligence, they shall no longer be exempt from their liability under law for third-party information or data or communication link hosted by them.”
Replying to questions by MP Kartikeya Sharma that what measures the government has taken to regulate digital media and also steps taken against social media violating national interest, the minister in a written reply said, the rules are adequate, and elaborately laid to keep a close eyes on the digital media. The Minister clarified the rules at length. They are:
Not to publish, transmit or store any information that threaten unity, integrity or sovereignty of India.
Not to publish, transmit item which is unlawful and prohibited by law security of the State, public order or contempt of court.
Platforms to provide information to the concerned authority in case of investigation and prosecution for cyber security incidents.
An intermediary having more than 50 lakh registered users in India will have to appoint Chief Compliance Officer and a nodal contact person for round the clock coordination with enforcement agencies.
Such intermediaries also must have a Resident Grievance Officer, publishing monthly compliance reports.