Latest news with #InformationTechnology(IntermediaryGuidelinesandDigitalMediaEthicsCode)Rules
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC seeks response on challenge to Delhi Police's online content takedown powers
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has issued a notice in response to a plea challenging a notification by Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena that grants the Delhi Police authority to issue takedown orders for online content on social media platforms. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, on Wednesday acknowledged the submission made by the Software Freedom Law Centre ( and sought responses from the LG Office and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), directing that they be submitted within six weeks. SFLC has contested the constitutional validity of the notification, which designates the Delhi Police as the Nodal Agency under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021), enabling it to issue takedown orders for online content. The petition argues that allowing police officers to independently direct content removal, without judicial or external oversight, risks enabling unchecked censorship and arbitrary limitations on constitutionally protected free speech. It was argued that neither the IT Rules, 2021, nor Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act confer any authority for the establishment of a Nodal Agency, Nodal Officer, or any other positions specified in the contested Notification. Section 79 solely provides conditional immunity to intermediaries and delineates their due diligence responsibilities; it does not grant executive power to the State or Union to institute a mechanism for speech regulation or restriction. It was also contended that the authority to restrict access to online content falls exclusively within the purview of Section 69A, alongside the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 (referred to as the 'Blocking Rules, 2009'). The Central Government has already exercised its authority to appoint a designated officer for issuing blocking orders through the formal implementation of these rules. The statutory framework does not envisage the establishment of any parallel or supplementary authority, particularly at the direction of a state-level executive. The plea stated that the IT Act does not provide for the creation or operation of a Nodal Agency in the manner proposed by the contested Notification. (ANI)
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Parl panel seeks action plan against 'anti-national' social media platforms
A parliamentary panel has sought details from two key ministries overseeing information flow on the action they have planned against social media platforms and influencers who "seem to be working against national interest", following the Pahalgam terror parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, has noted that some social media influencers and platforms in the country seem to be working against national interest, which is likely to incite violence, sources READ: SC puts assets, appointment process of judges in public for transparencyThe committee, in a communication to the ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology, has sought details of the "contemplated action to ban such platforms under IT Act, 2000 and Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021".The letter, the sources said, has been sent to the secretaries of the two ministries and they have been asked to submit the details by May READ: No Pakistan-related issues discussed: ADB on meeting with FM SitharamanSeveral social-media handles have been banned on different platforms after they allegedly posted content against national-security people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by terrorists in south Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, with India blaming terror groups linked to Pakistan for the horrific READ: UNSC begins closed door talks on situation between India, PakistanTrinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale, who is a member of the panel, said in a post on X that he had not received any communication related to the issue quoted in the memorandum. He claimed that according to rules, the chairperson cannot issue a statement without the approval of the however, deleted his post later.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- The Hindu
Shaadi.com under fire after ₹11 lakh matrimonial scam; Hyderabad police expose platform's lapses
A man who posed as a prospective groom on has been arrested by the Hyderabad City Police's Cyber Crime Wing for duping a woman doctor of nearly ₹11 lakh and threatening her with blackmail. An official release from the Cyber Crimes police said that the accused, identified as Jogada Vamshi Krishna, allegedly created a fake profile under the name 'Harsha Cherukuri' on the platform and used its premium 'Select Shaadi' service to target the victim. 'After winning her trust with promises of marriage, he claimed financial troubles and coaxed her into transferring large sums. He later resorted to threats and blackmail using personal material. He was arrested on March 15,' according to a police press release. Investigations revealed Krishna has a history of similar scams across multiple States, with over 20 cases filed against him, pointing to a broader pattern of digital exploitation through unverified online profiles. The release further explained that despite offering paid 'verified' profiles, the platform reportedly failed to conduct any genuine identity checks, said the officer. 'A relationship manager shared the fraudster's fake profile with the victim without background verification. Senior officials at including director Anupam Mittal, team lead, and manager Satish among others, have been named for enabling the transmission of false data and taking no action despite receiving complaints,' read the statement from the cyber crimes police. Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, platforms like are obliged to verify users, promptly act on complaints, and implement adequate safety mechanisms. Hyderabad Police have stated that the platform's negligence has stripped it of its 'safe harbour' protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, making it criminally liable under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other cyber laws. A case has been registered invoking multiple sections of the BNS and the IT Act, including Sections 66C and 66D of the latter. Citizens are advised not to rely blindly on 'verified' badges on matrimonial or dating platforms, avoid sharing private content online, and report any suspicious activity by dialling the cyber helpline 1930 or visiting
