The information technology ministry has invited public feedback on proposed amendments to the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021. The proposed amendments include the creation of a Grievance Appellate Committee, which is supposed to hear appeals against the decision of grievance officers. The 2021 rules require digital publications and social media platforms to appoint a grievance officer to address user complaints.
The IT rules were notified in February 2021 and aim to regulate digital platforms and social media platforms. Several petitions have been filed challenging the rules on the grounds that they would curb press freedom. The high courts of Kerala, Madras and Bombay have passed interim orders on petitions challenging the IT rules.
