Page 4 - It Rules Amendment News Today

The INS said that the government's fact-checking rules, which give a committee the power to take down content that is labelled "fake or false or misleading", calling them arbitrary and a violation of natural justice principles.

The controversial unit will comprise two representatives from the Union information technology ministry and statistics ministry, along with a media expert and a legal expert, senior government officials told 'Indian Express.'

The amended IT Rules are the most updated version of attempt to influence information flow

Misinformation is a clear and present danger to goal of a safe and trusted internet. Since the government alone has access to certain data, it is best placed to flag falsehoods

A senior government official said this composition would likely assuage concerns from critics about the Fact Check Unit’s potential lack of expertise. “The unit will be supported by designated nodal officers from other ministries,” the official said.

The issues posed by the amendment are a unique legal development. Indian courts have not yet substantively dealt with legal cases where online speech of private citizens is sought to be controlled by the government in this way.

A government-appointed fact-check body will now be allowed to label content related to the government on online platforms as “fake”

The Editors Guild of India on Friday said it was deeply disturbed by the draconian amendments to the Information Technology Rules that gave the government absolute power to determine fake news.

The fact checking unit will be a befitting response to vested interests from outside who propagate wrong and misleading information, he said, adding that the unit will be a government body that will analyse such information.

On 6th April, 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code)...