Delhi HC refuses to stay implementation of new IT rules

New Delhi:The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to stay the implementation of the new Information Technology Rules for digital news portals, saying it was not in agreement with the petitioners to grant any interim relief at this stage.

The bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Subramonium Prasad was hearing the plea filed by Foundation for Independent Journalism, The Wire, Quint Digital Media Limited and Pravda Media Foundation seeking to put a hold on the Centre’s May 28 notice asking digital news portals to comply with new Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021.

While stating that it could pass a reasoned detailed order or renotify it before the roster bench, the top court listed the applications for stay before the roster bench on July 7.

As per the amended IT rules, social media and streaming companies have to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist in investigations.

However, the fresh rules also concern issues such as restriction of free speech, requirements such as automatic identification and removal of content, and lack of elaboration on how the five million users will be calculated.(UNI)