Latest news with #IntermediaryGuidelinesandDigitalMediaEthicsCode
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi High Court seeks L-G, MeitY reply on police powers
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Lieutenant Governor's Office and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on a plea challenging a notification empowering Delhi Police to order online content removal. The petition, filed by the Software Freedom Law Centre ( contests the notification designating Delhi Police as the Nodal Agency under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, allowing them to issue takedown notices under the IT Act. The matter is scheduled for hearing on September 17. The SFLC argues that only the Central Government has blocking powers under Section 69A of the IT Act and related rules. Granting these powers to the police is 'ultra vires' and oversteps statutory limits. The plea raises concerns over unchecked censorship and violation of fundamental rights, citing Shreya Singhal and Madhyamam Broadcasting rulings.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC asks LG, Centre to reply to plea on online content takedown notices
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Lieutenant Governor on a plea challenging a notification issued by him empowering police to issue takedown notices for social media content. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notice to the LG and the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and asked them to file replies within six weeks. The court listed the matter for further hearing on September 17. The bench was hearing a plea filed by Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) challenging the legality and constitutional validity of the notification issued by the LG that designated Delhi Police as the nodal agency under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, empowering it to issue takedown notices for online content. The notification empowers Delhi Police officers to issue takedown orders to social media companies and other intermediaries to remove illegal content under the Information Technology Act.
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Business Standard
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Centre asks OTT platforms to stop streaming content from Pakistan
The government has asked all over-the-top (OTT) content streaming platforms, media streaming platforms, and internet intermediaries to immediately discontinue streaming of web series, films, songs, podcasts and any other content that has its origin in Pakistan. In an advisory, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) said that under Part-III of the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code, also known as the Information Technology Rules (IT) of 2021, all content publishers must take into consideration factors such as whether the content affects the 'sovereignty and integrity of India, threatens, endangers or jeopardises the security of the State, is detrimental to India's friendly relations with foreign countries, and is likely to incite violence or disturb the maintenance of public order' before publishing and airing them for public consumption. 'Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based State and non-State actors,' the MIB said in its advisory. The IT Rules of 2021 lay out specific guidelines for internet intermediaries, content OTT and media streaming platforms on the nature of content that can be stored, published or transmitted by them. While Parts I and II of the IT Rules deal with internet and social media intermediaries and are administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Part III specifies the Code of Ethics and procedure and safeguards concerning digital media and is administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Govt orders OTT platforms to take down all Pakistan-origin content with immediate effect
NEW DELHI: The government has directed all OTT platforms , media streaming services , and digital intermediaries to immediately stop hosting or streaming any content that originates from Pakistan, citing threats to national security and public order. The ministry of information and broadcasting, in an advisory issued on Thursday, invoked provisions under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code ) Rules, 2021, to justify the move. Operation Sindoor 'Op Sindoor's precision & execution was unimaginable': Rajnath Singh Operation Sindoor: India repels drone, missile attack across LoC Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list The directive covers all forms of media, including web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other digital content, whether provided for free or through a subscription model. "In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content... having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," the advisory said. The government said that the move follows recent terrorist attacks, including the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of several citizens and one Nepali national. The attack was linked to Pakistan-based terror groups, according to the ministry. The advisory underscored that publishers must avoid content that "affects the sovereignty and integrity of India" or is "detrimental to India's friendly relations with foreign countries." This unprecedented action could impact content libraries of major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and others, which have previously hosted Pakistani-origin films and dramas. The directive, signed by deputy director Kshitij Aggarwal, was issued with the approval of the competent authority and comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following cross-border terror attacks and the recent Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
NDTV
08-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Stop Airing All Pakistani Shows, Films, OTT Series, Songs In India": Government After Operation Sindoor
New Delhi: In the wake of Operation Sindoor and the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Government of India has issued an advisory directing all OTT platforms, media streaming services and digital intermediaries to discontinue web series, films, songs, podcasts and other media content originating from Pakistan. The advisory, dated May 8, 2025, has been issued under Part II of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It reminds publishers and intermediaries of their obligation to "ensure that content hosted or streamed does not threaten India's sovereignty, integrity, national security, or public order". The Ministry noted that several terrorist attacks in India have had cross-border links with state and non-state actors in Pakistan. Citing the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which led to the deaths of several Indian citizens and one Nepali national, the government stated that the advisory is being issued in the interest of national security. The Code of Ethics under the IT Rules states that "publishers must exercise due caution and discretion while publishing any content that could affect India's sovereignty, security, public order, or friendly relations with foreign countries". "OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription-based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," the advisory read. This decision comes days after Operation Sindoor, in which Indian forces launched retaliatory strikes on terror camps across the border. The advisory has been issued with the approval of the competent authority in the Ministry.
