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New IT rules: India said it recognizes the right to privacy, “the central element of an individual’s existence”.
New Delhi:
India today called concerns “misplaced, exaggerated and misleading” about the country’s new information and technology (IT) rules raised in a recent report by a special branch of the Human Rights Council. United Nations Man (UNHRC). He highlighted the democratic credentials of the country, saying that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution and reinforced by an independent judiciary and strong media.
“The rules are designed to empower ordinary social media users. Victims of abuse on social media platforms will have a forum for redressing their grievances,” India’s Permanent Mission to the UN said. in a letter.
It was responding to concerns raised by the UNHRC Special Procedures Service regarding India’s Information Technology Rules (Intermediate Guidelines and Code of Ethics for Digital Media), 2021.
The UN special rapporteurs had declared that these rules did not conform to international human rights standards. Writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, they expressed “serious concerns” about parts of the legislation that could restrict freedom of expression.
“We are concerned that intermediaries will over-comply with takedown requests to limit their liability, or develop digital recognition-based content removal systems or automated tools to restrict content,” they wrote.
The Indian government has clashed with several social media and messaging platforms, including Twitter and WhatsApp, in recent months over some aspects of the rules, particularly that relating to setting up grievance systems.
“The fear that the rules could be misused to lodge large numbers of complaints in order to overwhelm the grievance mechanisms created by social media platforms is also misplaced, exaggerated and misleading, and shows a lack of will to respond to the grievances of users of these media platforms while using their data to generate revenue, ”the Permanent Mission said in a brief information note on IT rules.
He also said the government fully recognizes and respects the right to privacy, “the central element of an individual’s existence.” The new IT rules only seek information on a message already in circulation that resulted in a breach, he said, referring to another issue raised by UN officials.
“The rules were set in the exercise of statutory powers of the Computing Act, taking full account of the principles of reasonableness and proportionality,” the letter said.
“The Permanent Mission of India requests that the attached information be brought to the attention of the relevant Special Rapporteurs,” he said.
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