'New IT rules necessitated by social media abuse'; India strongly rejects UN rapporteurs remarks on New IT rules

Geneva, June 21: In a strongly worded rebuttal, India rejected the criticism of its new IT rules by the UN rapporteurs, and slammed them saying that the country's democratic credentials are well recognized and the right to freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under its Constitution.

  

 

"The concerns alleging potential implications for freedom of expression that the new IT Rules will entail are highly misplaced," India's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva said. It added that the rules are "designed to empower ordinary users" of social media.

 

In the letter, the mission  further pointed out that the Indian Ministry of Information Technology and Information and Broadcasting had taken consultations in 2018 to prepare for draft rules. The enactment of these rules had become necessary following widespread concerns about increasing instances of abuse of social media and digital platforms, it said.

 

 

 

Moreover, the mission also highlighted the salient features of the new IT rules including grievance redressal mechanism, ensuring online safety and dignity of users, especially for woman users, removal of unlawful information.

 

"The concern that the rules may be misused deliberately to make a large number of complaints so as to overwhelm the grievance redressal mechanisms created by social media platforms is also misplaced, exaggerated and disingenuous and shows lack of willingness to address the grievances of the users of these media platforms while using their data to earn revenues," the Indian mission added.

 

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This comes after, special rapporteurs on right to freedom of opinion, peaceful assembly, and privacy - Irene Khan, Clement Voule, and Joseph Cannataci in a letter said that the rules "do not conform with international human rights norms". They also urged the Government of India to withdraw, review or reconsider certain key aspects of the Rules.

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