Page 3 - It Rules Amendment News Today

The Bombay High Court on Thursday wondered if statements made during the election campaigns next year would be considered “business of the government” and a publication questioning the correctness of...

The registration plan could be carried out in phases, with fact-checking units of “legacy and reputed” media companies being allowed to seek registration in the first phase, a senior government official said.

The central government stated that where the FCU has notified of any false and misleading content, the aggrieved party would be entitled to pursue legal remedy and court will be the final arbiter in the matter.

In mid-April, Indian Express had reported that the ‘fact-checking unit’ will have two government representatives and two government-appointed experts.

In response to a petition by satirist and comedian Kunal Kamra, the Union government has promised on affidavit to not constitute such a fact-check unit, that would have the powers to call for pulling down of information that the government deems to be not factual.

Stand up comedian Kunal Kamra challenged rules which said Fact-Checking unit can tag contents it considers fake news on Union government's activities.

A division bench of Justices GS Patel and Neela Gokhale recorded the statement of the ASG and posted the matter for final disposal of the case on June 8

The Bombay High Court on Monday stated that the petition filed by stand up comic Kunal Kamra challenging the recent amendments to the Information Technology Rules 2021 is maintainable.

The Ministry clarified that the "Fact Checking Unit" under the amended IT Rules may only direct removal of false or misleading information pertaining to government policies and programmes, not satire or artist impression.

The choice of the legal device used – even when less drastic options exist – is striking.