The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday clarified that the powers under the new rules for digital media publications are ...
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday clarified that the powers under the new rules for digital media publications are not delegated to states, district magistrates or police commissioners.
The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, under the Information Technology Act, 2000, were notified on February 25.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry again clarified the provisions of the rules that relate to the publishers of digital news and current affairs as well as the publishers of online curated content. The ministry, in its letter to the chief secretaries to state governments and Union Territory administrations, said that the rules are based on a Code of Ethics.
“The rules require a three-level grievance redressal mechanism consisting of the publisher [Level-1], self-regulating body constituted by the publishers [Level-II] and an Oversight Mechanism of the Government [Level III], with time-bound grievance disposal mechanism,” it said.
The ministry said that the rules finally require the publishers to furnish information to the government and also the periodical disclosure of information regarding grievance redressal in the public domain.
The statement came two days after the Manipur government, ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, issued a notice to a journalist, Paojel Chaoba, under the new digital rules. The notice, according to Chaoba, was issued...
