In response to growing concerns over proposed amendments to IT rules, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) held discussions with social media platforms and civil society groups, indicating a willingness to consider stakeholder feedback before finalising the changes.
IT Secretary S Krishnan said the government is “open” to suggestions and may extend the April 14 deadline for feedback, following requests from industry for more time. He added that the proposed amendments are largely “clarificatory” and do not expand government powers.
The draft changes to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 have triggered public debate, particularly for bringing ‘news and current affairs content’ shared by non-publisher users, including influencers and content creators, under regulatory oversight. This would expand the scope of Part III of the rules, which currently applies to registered news publishers.
The government had proposed these amendments on March 30, also seeking to mandate intermediaries to comply with advisories, SOPs, and guidelines issued by the IT Ministry. Civil society groups have raised concerns, arguing that such provisions could extend legal obligations beyond the parent law.
Speaking after the meeting, Krishnan said, “…we’ve had an interaction today with both industry and stakeholders, and a number of useful suggestions came up. They sought a little more time to give their views, which I think we will consider.”
He noted that stakeholders have asked for more clarity on the implications of bringing intermediaries under Part III and Rule 14, as well as clearer definitions of roles between intermediaries, users, and registered publishers.
Industry representatives also requested consolidation of guidelines and prior consultation before issuing advisories. Krishnan termed these as “reasonable” and said the ministry will examine them.
Additional concerns included potential challenges for small business advertising and the need for procedural safeguards. Krishnan said the ministry will review all suggestions received both during consultations and through formal submissions.
He outlined that the draft proposes 4 key changes, including content retention for law enforcement purposes, procedural updates, compliance requirements, and expanded scope under Part III. He added that the move to bring all news-related content under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is aimed at ensuring consistency, as individuals increasingly share such content online.
Meanwhile, the Internet Freedom Foundation has called for a complete withdrawal of the amendments, warning they could enable opaque censorship and undermine principles of natural justice under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
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