Page 3 - It Act

Top headlines: HC notice to Centre on IT Rules; Delhi schools to re-open

Business Standard brings you the top headlines on Friday

HC stays some provisions of Code of Ethics of IT Rules for digital media

Bombay High Court granted an interim stay to the operation of clauses 9 (1) and 9 (3) of the new Information Technology Rules, 2021, for digital media pertaining to adherence to a Code of Ethics.

Twitter in compliance with IT Rules with permanent officers in place: govt

The new appointees are employees of Twitter Inc and not its India arm, and will report to the US office directly

Cases under quashed section of IT Act: SC issues notice to states, UTs

SC on Monday issued notices to all states, Union Territories and high courts on an NGO's plea that people are still being booked under Sec 66A of IT Act that was scrapped by apex court verdict in 2015

Proactively moderated 65,280 content pieces in July says Koo

Koo has proactively moderated 65,280 content pieces, while 3,431 posts were reported by its users during July, the homegrown company said in its monthly compliance report as mandated by the IT rules. The new IT rules require large digital platforms - with over 5 million users - to publish monthly compliance reports, mentioning the details of complaints received and action taken thereon, as well details around proactively moderated content. In a statement on Monday, Koo said it took steps to proactively moderate 65,280 posts, of which 2.9 per cent (1,887) were removed while 'other action' was taken against the balance 63,393. Other action' includes overlay, blur, ignore, warn, etc., related to Koos that do not comply with GoI guidelines, it added. The report for July 2021 shows that of the 3,431 Koos reported by the community (users), wherein 14.5 per cent (498) were removed, while other action' was taken against the rest 2,933, it said. The volume of proactively moderated content

Google files second transparency report in accordance with new IT Rules

Removes over 150,000 pieces of content based on complaints received in May and June, over 98% of which were related to copyright

Don't register cases under repealed Section 66A of IT Act: Centre to states

The Centre on Wednesday asked the states to direct their police not to register cases under the repealed Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 related to posting online comments. The Supreme Court in 2015 had struck down the controversial Section 66A of the IT Act that made posting "offensive" comments online a crime punishable by jail, after a long campaign by defenders of free speech. However, recently, the apex court had said that it was shocking that the judgment striking down the law has not been implemented even now. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested states and Union Territories (UTs) to direct all police stations under their jurisdiction not to register cases under the repealed Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, a home ministry statement said. The ministry said it has also asked the states and UTs to sensitise law enforcement agencies for the compliance of the order issued by the Supreme Court on March 24, 2015. The MHA has als

Received 94 grievances, actioned 133 URLs in May 26-Jun 25: Twitter report

Twitter received 94 grievances and "actioned" 133 URLs between May 26 and June 25, the microblogging platform said in its maiden monthly compliance report as mandated by the IT rules.

Twitter names resident grievance officer, publishes report under IT rules

Amid tensions with government, Twitter has appointed a Resident Grievance Officer, released its first India Transparency Report to meet the new IT rules.

'Law of land is supreme, Twitter must follow rule,' says new IT Minister

The 51-year old took charge as the IT, Communications and Railways minister on Thursday, a day after the Cabinet reshuffle

Ravi Shankar Prasad: The minister who took on big tech over compliance

While Digital India, PLI for electronics have been big focus areas for him, Prasad will be remembered for sending a strong message to FB, WhatsApp and Twitter to follow the rules of the land

Twitter lost immunity for non-compliance with IT Rules: Centre to HC

Govt counsel says grievance officer located in the US; Twitter said on Saturday it is in the process to appoint a local one

Registration of FIR under Section 66A of IT Act, terrible and shocking: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed shock at the practice of police registering FIRs under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, which was struck down by the top court in the 2015 judgment

Google publishes report under new IT rules, removes 59K pieces of content

The total number of complaints received by Google in the reported period was 27,762, of which 96.2 per cent related to copyright issues, 1.3 per cent were related to trademark, 1 per cent defamation

After sinking billions, Walmart, Amazon haven't learnt their place in India

India is effectively muzzling the two leading US players. and it's tilting balance in favor of offline commerce, away from digital startups that are India's best bet for rebuilding the economy.

Twitter India head Manish Maheshwari booked for showing wrong map of India

The microblogging platform removed the map on Monday night

Amid tussle with govt, Twitter's interim grievance officer for India quits

The social media company's website no longer displays his name, as required under Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021

Rule of law

Hounding tech platforms can't be the solution

Govt responds to UN Special Rapporteurs concerns over new IT Rules

Says Meity, IB ministry undertook broad consultations in 2018 with various stakeholders before finalising the rules

UN Special Rapporteurs write to govt against IT Rules, ask for review

They say the IT Rules seem to be at variance with international law and standards on privacy rights and freedom of opinion and expression, to which India is a signatory