The Parliamentary Permanent Committee for Communication and Information Technology, headed by BJP Nishikant Dubey, is scheduled to meet on May 7, 2025). | Photo Credit: Getty Images/Istockphoto
In an effort to deter “false reports”, the government plans to revise instructions for intermediary platforms and the re -establishment of a “safe harbor” that protects these platforms, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, according to sources, said it answers the questions of the Parliamentary Permanent Committee on Communication and Information Technology.
Following the terrorist attack, the Pahalgam government blocked dozens of YouTube channels that quoted their spread of false news and national security. While most of the affected accounts are Pakistani, at least two Indian channels belonging to Dr. Medusa and Newtube News Channel 4pm News.
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The parliament panel is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) in the morning. In the written submission before the meeting, the Ministry, according to sources, said, “In order to check the threat of false messages, the proper care of mediating platforms could be re -evaluated to take appropriate steps to remove false messages from their platforms themselves.”
The intermediary platforms have immunity before the content of the content published on their platforms under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act 2000. The provisions provide a safe port for intermediaries who do not hold them for the content generated by the user.
The government repeatedly claimed that it was planning responsibility for the platforms more responsible, but did not take any specific step. On the occasion of the National Press Day in November 2024, the Minister of Trade Union for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said it was necessary to re -regulate the provisions of the “safe port”.
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Meanwhile, the Ministry I & B also expressed that “self -regulation” is the best way to deal with false news. In the meantime, it has ruled out the bringing the new law to deal with “false messages” with the requirement of “wider consultation and building of consensus”, especially with regard to the provisions of freedom of expression and expression in the constitution.
The Government believes that the provision of the statutory base for the control unit according to the Press Information (PIB) Office, as proposed in changes in IT rules 2021, as mentioned above, is necessary to check the false reports concerning its plans, programs and initiatives. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) is a special holiday (SLP) against the judgment of the Bombay High Court, which affected the power of control of the unit to eliminate a safe port on the content of social media platforms that the government considered incorrect information.
Published – May 6, 2025 9:38
