New IT rules framed after consultations with stakeholders: India tells UN

India’s new IT rules are “designed to empower ordinary users of social media”, India’s permanent mission at the United Nations said. In a letter, India’s mission to the UN added that the new social media rules were finalised after the central government had consultations in 2018 with civil society and other stakeholders, reported news agency ANI. 

The Indian government told the United Nations that implementing the new rules was necessary as the new IT rules will help to address issues related to increased instances of abuse on social media and other digital platforms. 

Three rapporteurs of the Special Procedures Branch of the UN Human Rights Council had raised concerns about the new IT rules with the central government on June 11, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said on Sunday. 

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The central government said that new rules were finalised after the IT ministry undertook broad consultations with several stakeholders, including individuals, civil society, industry associations, and organisations in 2018. It said that the ministry had also invited public comments to prepare the draft rules after which an inter-ministerial meeting had discussed them and finalised the new IT rules, ANI reported. 

“The Rules are designed to empower ordinary users of social media. The victims of abuse at social media platforms shall have a forum for redressal of their grievances. The IT rules finalized after due discussion with various stakeholders,” the Centre told the UN.

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It said that the new social media rules, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were framed and notified on February 25 this year. The rules came into effect in the nation on May 26, 2021. 

The government said that the rules will also help in addressing concerns related to issues like inducement for recruitment of terrorists, circulation of obscene content, spread of disharmony, financial frauds, incitement of violence, public order, ANI reported.