India refutes UNHRC concerns over IT rules

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

India has refuted concerns raised by three UN Special Rapporteurs about the new IT rules by pointing out that these were framed after broad consultations in 2018 with various stakeholders, including individuals, civil society and industry associations. An inter-ministerial meeting discussed the feedback and, thereafter, finalised the rules.

The concerns regarding India’s IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were conveyed by the Special Procedures Branch of the Human Rights Council (HRC). They pertained to protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to privacy.

Replying to the HRC wing, the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva said the rules were designed to empower ordinary users of social media and victims of abuse at social media platforms would have a forum for redressal of their grievances.

The mission also highlighted India’s well-recognised democratic credentials and that an independent judiciary and a robust media were part of India’s democratic structure.

The government had notified the IT Rules on February 25. The companies that do not sign up these will lose the “safe harbour” protection that gives them protection against liability for content posted on their platform by third party users.