The Consumer Protection Questions Raised by Kashmir s Internet Shutdown
Most telecom operators in J&K only sell voice/talk-time services as a âfreeâ service along with data packs, leaving postpaid customers to buy 4G packs to access calling services during the ban on mobile internet.
Children play games on their mobile phones in a neighbourhood in Srinagar October 10, 2019. Photo: Reuters/Danish Ismail
Tech15/Mar/2021
On February 5, 2020, the Centre restored high-speed internet in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir after a long period of 550 days. Termed as the worldâs longest internet shutdown, the Indian government came under heavy criticism for shutting down the Internet in Jammu and Kashmir and denying internet access to millions of people. Recently, several international celebrities have spoken out against Indiaâs internet-gag policy.
Parliamentary IT panel quizzes MEITY on Intermediary Rules: Report
March 16, 2021
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, in a scheduled interaction, questioned officials from the Ministries of Electronics & Information Technology and Information & Broadcasting on the Intermediary Rules, and the OTT streaming regulations therein, the Hindustan Times reported. The ministries were reportedly asked whether due process was followed in consulting the industry before putting out the Rules, which the ministry assured the committee had been done.
While there was indeed a public consultation for the social media part of the Intermediary Rules, the same cannot completely be said for OTT streaming platforms. Under the banner of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, the government held three seminars in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, and touted this as a part of the consultative process that led to the OTT streaming regulations that became a part of the Intermedia
India News: Tightening the rules governing social media and streaming companies, the Centre had announced last month the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
What we know about National Cyber Coordination Centre from IT Committee report
March 15, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the implementation of the union government’s cybersecurity project, the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), leading the government to revise down funds required by half in financial year 2020-21.
For FY2020-21, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) revised down funds from Rs 170 crore (Budget Estimate) to Rs 80 crore (Revised Estimate) under the head Cyber Security Projects (NCCC & Others). Note that from the budget documents, it appears that CERT-in, NCCC, and the broader cyber security projects by the union government receive budgets under two heads: “Cybersecurity (NCCC & CERT-in)” and “Cyber Security Projects (NCCC & Others)”. The latter allotment is made under PM Narendra Modi’s flagship Digital India scheme.
Some members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology on Monday questioned the legality of new rules framed by the government to regulate OTT and social media platforms. Tightening the rules governing social media and streaming companies, the Centre had announced last month the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code applicable on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video among others. Top officials of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Monday deposed before the parliamentary panel on intermediary guidelines in the context of examination of the subject review of functioning of Central Board of Film Certification.