Despite 10 petitions challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 are pending in the Supreme Court and the High Courts of Bombay, Delhi, Kerala, and Madras, the Union ministry of information and broadcasting sought detail about digital news media publishers under the act, revealed a Right to Information application filed by the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF).
The RTI which was filed by IFF earlier this month confirmed that following the government notices dated May 26 and September 9 in 2021, over 2,000 digital news media publishers had submitted information to the I&B Ministry.
The RTI further sought information on whether notices have been issued to the publishers and the name of publishers to which the Ministry’s response on January 14th stated that over 2.100 publishers of news media and OTT platforms have already submitted their details to the Ministry.
The Bombay HC on August 14 had stayed the operation of sub-rules (1) and (3) of Rule 9 of the IT Rules 2021 and the Madras HC on September 16 has stayed two clauses in India IT Rules, 2021, stating that the oversight mechanism prescribed in the rules appears to be intended “at controlling the media by the government” which could lead to fragmentation of the fourth pillar of democracy.
