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Home / IAS Preparation / Information Technology Rules 2021

Information Technology Rules 2021 - Provisions, Penalties, Guidelines and More!

Last Updated on Nov 24, 2023
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India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology introduced the Information Technology Rules 2021. It aims to regulate the digital media platforms operating in India. This includes social media intermediaries, digital news publishers, and over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The rules require intermediaries to establish a grievance redressal mechanism. A grievance officer would be required to address complaints from users. Social media intermediaries with over 50 lakh registered users in India are also required to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer.

Information Technology Rules, 2021

Source: MeitY, GoI

It is relevant under the syllabus of the General Studies (GS- 2 and 3) paper. This article on IT rules 2021 will help you to prepare for the Prelims and the Mains stage of the UPSC IAS Exam.

This article on Testbook will discuss in a detailed way about the significance of these rules. To learn about more such topics in an interactive manner under the guidance of an expert mentor and to take your preparation to a more robust level, check out the UPSC CSE Coaching.

Latest News related to Information Technology Rules 2021

Latest Amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 –

In October 2022, MeitY notified a new amendment to the IT Rules 2021 after considering feedback from the stakeholders. The objective of these amendments are –

  • To secure the interests and constitutional rights of Internet users
  • To strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism under these rules
  • To protect the early-age start-ups.

The new amendment has introduced Grievance Appellate Committees(GAC) appointed by the central government. It is a three-member body consisting of one government officer and two independent members. This committee will address the complaints of internet users against the order of the grievance officer of Social Media Intermediaries within 30 days.

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About Information Technology Rules 2021

The Information Technology Rules, 2021 is a set of guidelines issued by the GoI under the Information Technology Act, 2000. These rules aim to regulate social media intermediaries, OTT platforms, and digital news media, among others. They came into effect on May 26, 2021.

Background of IT Rules, 2021

  • The SC ordered guidelines to eliminate child pornography and rape-related content in the Prajwala case of 2018.
  • In February 2020, the Rajya Sabha committee reported the negative effects of pornography on social media.
  • OTT platforms were brought under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2020.
  • New rules were created under statutory provisions, replacing the 2011 Intermediaries Guidelines.
  • In February 2021, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 were released. 
  • The 2021 rules aim to ensure safety and dignity online, especially for women and children.

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Mandates of Information Technology Rules 2021

The mandate and powers of IT Rules 2021 for social media guidelines in India are as follows:

The intermediary should observe due diligence

  • It is required for intermediaries to publish on their website and mobile application the rules and regulations, privacy policy and user agreement and ensure necessary compliance with the policy.
  • Intermediaries should frame policies to prevent stealing of Intellectual property rights, defamatory & obscene content, child pornography, and any content which violates any law of India.

Mandatory Grievance redressal mechanism

  • Social Media Intermediaries are required to establish a grievance redressal mechanism.
  • The grievance Officer is responsible for addressing the complaint within twenty-four hours and resolving the complaints within a period of fifteen days of the users.

Grievance Appellate Committee(s)

  • According to the new intermediary guidelines, the Central Government will constitute Grievance Appellate Committee(s) which will function above the intermediary’s grievance redressal officer.
  • The 3-member committee will form within three months of notification by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • Any person who is not satisfied with the action of the intermediary’s grievance redressal officer can appeal in front of GAC within 30 days.
  • The GAC will dispose of the appeal within 30 days.

About Internet Intermediaries

  • Internet intermediaries refer to a wide range of service provider companies that facilitate interactions on the Internet between natural and legal persons through their platforms.
  • Internet Intermediaries allow the processing of data, hosting of web-based services like video streaming, text messaging, sale of goods and services etc.
  • They have been provided safe harbor provisions under Section 79 of Information Technology Act,2000. Safe harbor provisions ensure that the intermediary shall not be held legally for any third-party information, data etc., made available by the users on its platform.
  • Examples of Internet Intermediaries –
    • Network operators – JIO, Airtel etc.
    • Network infrastructure providers – Cisco, Huawei, Indus Towers etc.
    • Internet access providers – BSNL, Hathway, JIO Fibre etc.
    • Internet service providers – Broadband and narrowband internet services.
    • Social Media Platforms – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc.
    • Search Engines – Google, Bing etc.
    • Cyber Cafes
    • E-commerce

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New Guidelines of Information Technology Rules 2021

The new guidelines under the IT Rules 2021 for different intermediaries are as follows –

Social Media Intermediaries

  • Social media intermediaries with more than 50 lakh registered users must appoint a Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Contact Person, and a Grievance Officer.
  • Need to publish a monthly compliance report. It should contain details of complaints received and action taken on them.
  • They must also remove content flagged by the authorities within 36 hours. They should remove explicit content within 24 hours of receipt of a complaint.

OTT Platforms

  • OTT platforms must self-classify their content into five categories based on age-appropriateness.
  • They must prominently display the classification rating specific to each content or program. They should also display an appropriate age rating.
  • The platforms must establish a grievance redressal mechanism. It should be headed by a Grievance Redressal Officer based in India.

News Publishers on Digital Media

  • Digital news publishers are required to adhere to a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism. It includes:
    • self-regulation by the publishers, 
    • a self-regulatory body, and 
    • oversight by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The publishers must appoint a Grievance Redressal Officer. The contact details of the officer should be displayed on their website.
  • They must also disclose the origin and source of any content that is paid for and sponsored.

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Grievance Redressal of Information Technology Rules 2021

According to IT Rules 2021, Grievance is a complaint regarding any content, any duties of an intermediary or publisher or other matters related to the computer resource of an intermediary. Under the new intermediary guidelines, a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism has been established.

Grievance Redressal Level

Provision

Details 

Level – I

Self-regulation by the publishers
  • Publishers of news and current affairs content or online curated content(OTT) are required to appoint a Grievance Redressal Officer.
  • The officer should be an Indian resident.
  • The officer is required to take a decision on a grievance received by it within 15 days.

Level – II

Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the publishers
  • Publishers may have one or more self-regulation bodies.
  • They are registered under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB).
  • These self regulation bodies will be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, a High Court or an independent eminent person.
  • Maximum members in these bodies can not be more than six.
  • The self-regulation body will check whether the grievances are resolved by the publisher within 15 days.

Level – III

Oversight mechanism
  • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) shall formulate an oversight mechanism to monitor the implementation of these rules.
  • MIB will release a charter for self-regulating bodies, code of ethics.
  • It will also constitute an Inter-Departmental Committee for hearing grievances.

Three Tier Grieveance Redressal Mechanism

Fig.1 Three–Tier Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Source: Ministry of IT

Concerns over the New IT Rules 2021

Here are some of the concerns that have been raised about the new IT Rules 202 India:

Increased censorship

The new IT Rules give the government sweeping powers to censor content online. The rules require intermediaries to remove access to content that is "unlawful" or "harmful". However, the rules do not define what constitutes "unlawful" or "harmful" content. This leaves it open to interpretation by the government. The government could use the rules to censor legitimate content that it disagrees with.

Chilling effect on free speech

The new IT Rules have been criticized for having a chilling effect on free speech. The rules require intermediaries to proactively monitor content. It requires them to disable access to any content that they deem to be "unlawful" or "harmful". This could discourage people from expressing their views online, for fear of their content being censored.

Increased surveillance

The new IT Rules require intermediaries to collect and store data on users for a period of 18 months. This data could be used by the government to track and monitor users' online activity. This has raised concerns about privacy and security.

Weak due process protections

The new IT Rules do not provide adequate due process protections for users. Users who have their content removed or disabled under the rules do not have the right to appeal the decision. This could lead to users being unfairly censored.

Current status of Information Technology Rules 2021
  • The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology(MeiTY) has introduced the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2022.
  • Intermediaries will now be expected to ensure that no content is uploaded that purposefully communicates misinformation or information that is plainly incorrect or misleading, handing a crucial responsibility to intermediaries.

Also, read the article Important Acts of India here!

Need to Amend the Information Technology Rules, 2021
  • Critics argue that the IT Rules 2021 could stifle free speech and expression.
  • It gives the government broad powers to censor online content. It requires social media platforms to remove the content within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. 
  • Lack of clarity in the rules leads to confusion and uncertainty.
  • The rules apply to all social media intermediaries, regardless of their size. This places a burden on small businesses.
  • The grievance redressal framework in the rules needs to be strengthened.
  • The rules are inconsistent with other laws, such as the:
  • There was a lack of consultation before introducing the rules.
  • The rules may have a negative impact on foreign investment in India. 
    • They are seen as an additional regulatory burden on social media companies operating in the country.

Check out the article on Digital Education in India for UPSC!

Information Technology Rules 2021: Facts and Figures for UPSC

Facts and figures related to new rules and initiatives are very important for the UPSC and other exams. So, some of the noteworthy facts related to IT Rules 2021 are given below in the following table:

IT Rules, 2021 – Important Facts

Full Name of Rules

Information Technology (IntermediaryGuidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021

Notified on

25 February 2021

Nodal Ministry

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Objective

To have access to an open, safe, trustworthy, and accountable Internet.

Applicable on
  • Social Media Platforms
  • OTT Platforms
  • News Publishers
  • Digital Media

Classification of Content

Under Five age based categories –

  • U (Universal)
  • U/A 7+
  • U/A 13+
  • U/A 16+
  • A (Adult).

Grievance redressal mechanism

Under three levels –

  • Level-I
  • Level-II
  • Level-III

Way Forward
  • The Government of India needs to follow best international practices to create a safer digital space on the internet in which the fundamental rights of all users of digital services are protected.
  • To secure the free speech of online users, there should be a provision that provides Intermediaries an Opportunity before taking down or blocking their content.
  • The government should bring legislation related to data protection law. This will help in addressing the issues with the social media platform. Further, it will also move a step forward and force social media platforms to store data within the boundaries of India itself.
  • There needs to be a balance between reasonable restrictions and the right to privacy. The government needs to find a balance between these two matters.
  • The government, in cooperation with stakeholders, should promote digital literacy among the masses of India.

Study the article on Digital India for UPSC!

Conclusion

The New IT Rules for Social Media alter the existing operation, accountability, compliance, and user rights of the social media platform.

To ensure the fine-tuning of any substantial shortcomings, implementation issues, and potential misuse of the legislation, policymakers and stakeholders should continue to collaborate to put in place an effective and balanced regulatory framework.

We hope all your doubts related to the topic of Information Technology Rules, 2021, are addressed after going through this article. Testbook provides comprehensive notes for Civil services and various other competitive examinations. It has always assured the quality of its product, like content pages, live tests, Gk and current affairs, mocks, and so on.Ace your UPSC preparation with Testbook. Download the Testbook App now.

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Information Technology Rules, 2021 FAQs

The Information Technology Rules,2021 was enacted on 25 February 2021. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has enacted these rules

In the case of non compliance to IT Rules 2021, intermediary will lose protection afforded to it by Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. This will make it liable if a third-party user posts unlawful content on their platforms. Intermediaries can also be banned for non compliance to IT rules.

The objective of Information Technology Rules 2021 is to ensure that all Indian Internet users and Digital Nagriks have access to an open, safe, trustworthy, and accountable Internet.

There are three levels of Grievance Redressal proposed under IT Act 2021. These levels are Level I, II and III. These levels provide redressal of grievances of Internet users in India.

The draft Information Technology Rules, 2021 has been notified and implemented by the government of India in February 2021.

Section 79 of Information Technology Act, 2021 deals with the liability of intermediaries for third-party content. It states that an intermediary shall not be liable for any third-party content published on its platform on the basis of some conditions.
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