MeitY Dismisses Curbing Dissent 'Myth' in New IT Rules for Online News

The ministry has opened the draft for public consultation, with the feedback window currently set to close on April 14, although officials indicated that the deadline could be extended to allow for wider participation.

Speaking after a stakeholder consultation, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan sought to allay fears that the proposed changes would expand the government's authority or be used to curb dissent.

He dismissed concerns that the rules would lead to the takedown of anti-government content, calling such claims a "myth," and emphasised that any action would remain within the bounds of existing legal and constitutional provisions.

Krishnan said the amendments are driven by four key objectives, including enhanced requirements for data and information retention, improved compliance with existing guidelines, clearer definitions of key terms, and structural refinements to make the rules more effective.

One of the central changes involves refining the definition of "news and current affairs content," particularly in the context of Section 79(2)(c) of the IT Act, which deals with intermediary liability. According to the secretary, the updated framework aims to remove ambiguity and bring greater clarity to how such content is identified and regulated.

The draft also proposes a calibrated shift in regulatory oversight, with certain powers related to news content being shared with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. While MeitY will retain overall authority, the move is intended to create a more clearly defined division of responsibilities between ministries.

Another significant proposal is the expansion of Part III of the rules to cover not only registered news publishers but also non-registered digital content creators. This would substantially widen the regulatory scope, bringing a broader range of online actors under a unified framework while introducing checks and balances.

However, the proposals have sparked debate within the industry. Stakeholders have raised concerns about how intermediaries will be treated under the revised rules, the precise scope of "news and current affairs content," and the adequacy of procedural safeguards to prevent misuse.

The government is expected to review stakeholder feedback before finalising the amendments, which could have far-reaching implications for India's digital news ecosystem.

- IANS