India: Opened consultation on proposed amendment of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021

On 6 June 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) opened a public consultation on a drafted amendment of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) rules (IT rules). The proposed amended rules lay down rules for so-called intermediaries, which include operators of user-generated content platforms. Under the amended rules, intermediaries would be obliged to ensure user compliance with the regulations, rules, and privacy policies of their service. Further, intermediaries would have a duty to prevent users from publishing certain categories harmful or unlawful content. The amended rules would also require intermediaries to respond to and, in some cases, remove reported content within a certain time frame, while also allowing intermediaries to enact safeguards to prevent user abuse of grievance mechanisms. Finally, the amended rules would introduce the "Grievance Appellate Committee" that wouldhave the power to overrule the decisions of social media companies and other internet companies, allowing users to appeal against the grievance redressal process of the online intermediaries before this body.Contributions to the consultation can be made until 6 July.