Latest news with #ITRules
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ban on Pakistan social media channels lifted? Many accounts, blocked after Pahalgam attack, ‘accessible' in India
Several social media accounts of Pakistani celebrities and YouTube channels of the country's news organisations, which were blocked following the Pahalgam terror attack, now appear to be accessible again. Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane and former cricketer Shahid Afridi(X and Instagram) The Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, such as Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, and Danish Taimoor, are now accessible from India. However, the accounts of other Pakistani actors, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, continue to be inaccessible from India, according to netizens. In addition to the film fraternity, Pakistani news media outlets like Hum TV, ARY Digital, and Har Pal Geo were available to be streamed in India again. The YouTube channels of former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, and Rashid Latif also appear to be restored. On May 8, the Indian government had issued a formal advisory to all OTT platforms and digital streaming services, instructing them to immediately remove any web series, films, music, podcasts, or other content that originates from Pakistan. Also Read | 'Was in the room': Jaishankar lays out chronology of India-Pakistan ceasefire, and US phone calls The advisory, framed under the IT Rules, 2021, had cited national security concerns and aims to prevent the dissemination of content deemed harmful to India's sovereignty or public order. Prior to that, authorities had blocked access to 16 Pakistan-linked YouTube channels, including those of news outlets and journalists. YouTube channels of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and sports figures like Shaheen Afridi and Shoaib Malik were also removed from Indian viewership. ACWA writes to PM Modi Earlier today, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising strong objections to the reappearance of social media accounts of Pakistani actors in India. 'It is deeply concerning and absolutely unacceptable that social media accounts of Pakistani artists like Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, and several Pakistan-based channels are once again visible in India," it said. "This is not merely a digital appearance — it is a direct insult to the sacrifice of our martyred soldiers and an emotional assault on every Indian who lost a loved one in terror attacks perpetrated by Pakistan,' the body added. India-Pak tensions Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in territories controlled by Pakistan, killing more than 100 terrorists. The operation also destroyed terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India were planned and directed. This triggered four days of clashes, with both sides using drones, missiles and long-range weapons and raising fears of an all-out war. On May 10, India's military conducted strikes on eight Pakistani airbases, including Murid and Nur Khan air bases, in retaliation for Pakistani attacks on a range of military facilities earlier the same day. The targets hit by the Indian Air Force included runways, hangars, command and control centres, radar bases, missile sites and weapon storage areas. An understanding was reached between both countries to cease hostilities later that day.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Not Tom, Dick, or Harry': Government rebukes Elon Musk's X; 'they are statutory functionaries'
NEW DELHI: A legal battle between Elon Musk 's social media platform X and the Centre intensified on Tuesday, after X's lawyer accused the government of allowing "every Tom, Dick, and Harry" official to issue content takedown orders. The remark sparked strong pushback from government's legal team, news agency Reuters reported. The comment came during a hearing in the Karnataka high court, where X is challenging a government-run website it describes as a 'censorship portal.' During the hearing, X's lawyer KG Raghavan cited a recent case where the Indian Railways demanded removal of a video showing a car on railway tracks, a video X said qualified as news. 'This is the danger, My Lord, that is done now, if every Tom, Dick, and Harry officer is authorised,' Raghavan was quoted as saying by Reuters. The phrase drew immediate objection from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who said: 'Officers are not Tom, Dick, or Harry … they are statutory functionaries. No social media intermediary can expect completely unregulated functioning.' Earlier in March, the Centre had strongly objected to social media platform's description of the 'Sahyog' portal as a 'censorship' tool, calling the allegation 'unfortunate' and 'condemnable' in a detailed affidavit submitted to the Karnataka high court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In response to X Corp's legal challenge to India's content-blocking mechanisms, the government had argued that the platform had misread provisions of the Information Technology Act, particularly Sections 69A and 79(3)(b). X Corp contended that Section 79(3)(b) does not allow the government to issue content takedown orders without following the safeguards laid out under Section 69A and the Supreme Court's judgment in the Shreya Singhal case. The Centre, however, asserted that Section 69A clearly provides for blocking orders under specific circumstances, with appropriate checks and procedures. The government clarified that Section 79(3)(b) only defines the responsibilities of intermediaries and that failure to comply with legal directives could lead to losing safe harbour protections under Rule 7 of the 2021 IT Rules. It accused X Corp of conflating takedown 'notices' issued under Section 79(3)(b) with formal 'blocking orders' under Section 69A—two distinct processes, as previously recognized by the Supreme Court. The Centre further emphasised that X, as a foreign commercial entity, has no inherent right to publish or defend third-party content under Indian law. Citing a previous Karnataka high court ruling in a case involving Twitter, the government reiterated that Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution do not extend to such entities. With its filing, the Centre reinforced its stance that India's legal framework on content moderation is lawful, balanced, and not indicative of government overreach.
News18
21-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
As PM Modi Raises Deep Fake Menace, Govt Steps Up Fight Against AI Misinformation
Last Updated: The government has launched a multi-pronged strategy combining legal enforcement, regulatory measures, and technological innovation to ensure a secure digital environment Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent three-nation trip, said the world cannot ignore the threats of technology, including the misuse of deep fake, even as he lauded the advancement of technology. Back home, a full-scale effort is underway to mitigate the challenge of AI misinformation. The Union government has launched a multi-pronged strategy combining legal enforcement, regulatory measures, and technological innovation to ensure a secure and trustworthy digital environment. At the heart of this initiative lies the Information Technology Act, 2000, which, along with the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, forms the legal foundation to tackle cybercrimes, including deep fakes. The IT Act penalises a range of offences such as identity theft, impersonation, privacy violations, transmission of obscene material, and cyberterrorism—irrespective of whether the content is human-generated or AI-created. Under the 2021 IT Rules, digital platforms and intermediaries, including social media companies, are legally required to act swiftly against unlawful content. This includes misinformation, impersonation, obscene visuals, gender-based harassment, and content that can mislead or deceive users. These platforms are also obligated to incorporate explicit content restrictions in their terms of service and ensure rapid redressal of user grievances. The government has also directed platforms to exercise caution when deploying AI models, LLMs (Large Language Models), and generative AI tools. Platforms must ensure such technologies are not used to spread unlawful, biased, or politically disruptive content. Furthermore, content generated through unverified AI tools must be appropriately labelled to indicate its potential unreliability. To bolster user protection, the Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) have been established under the IT Rules, 2021. These committees offer users the option to file appeals at if dissatisfied with how digital platforms handle complaints, including those related to deep fakes. Meanwhile, with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, set to come into force from July 1, 2024, legal backing for tackling deep fakes will be further reinforced. Sections like 111 (organised cybercrime), 318 (cheating), 319 (impersonation), and 336 (forgery) are directly applicable to deep fake-related offences. At the enforcement level, the Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) provides a comprehensive support system for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) across states. Citizens can report cybercrimes through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal ( or by calling the dedicated helpline 1930. In terms of innovation, the government has funded two key projects: Fake Speech Detection Using Deep Learning Design and Development of Software for Detecting Deepfake Videos and Images. The latter has led to the creation of 'FakeCheck", a prototype tool capable of detecting deep fakes without needing internet connectivity. The tool is currently being tested by select LEAs. Further, under the IndiaAI Mission, the government has invited expressions of interest from academia, start-ups, and industry players to develop responsible AI frameworks, watermarking tools, and deep fake detection technologies. So far, 38 proposals on watermarking and 100 on deep fake detection tools have been submitted. 'As the digital landscape evolves rapidly, the government maintains that enforcement remains a state subject. Citizens are encouraged to report violations either through or the national helpline 1093, ensuring swift legal action wherever necessary," the Ministry of Information and Technology has been saying. To ensure an inclusive and informed approach, a high-level committee comprising stakeholders from government, academia, and industry has been constituted to address the broader implications and solutions related to deep fakes. First Published: June 21, 2025, 15:14 IST
Economic Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Madras High Court says yes to Aadhaar checks for online rummy, poker players
State's authority to regulate is clear Filling a regulatory gap Live Events Privacy vs Public interest (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Madras High Court has backed Tamil Nadu's law that regulates online real-money games such as rummy and poker. The law sets limits on player age, betting amounts, playing time, and advertisements. It also requires a two-step Aadhaar verification process for players. The court rejected petitions from online gaming companies challenging these restrictions, stating the rules are valid and necessary.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice K Rajasekar made a clear point about the potential risks of online real-money games. They said, "In true essence, the online real money games is a trade activity, which, if left unregulated, has immediate implications on health of the public." This highlights the court's concern about the wider social effects, beyond just business gaming companies argued that only the central government has the power to regulate these platforms, especially since the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021, already offer some oversight. The court did not agree. It noted, "Both the Union and state govts have power to enact laws in their own respective subject matter apart from the common pool as enabled in List III (concurrent list). This court cannot hold that state is barred from enacting laws regulating online real money games. It is covered under the subject matter of public health and sanitation which comes under List II (state list)."This ruling confirms that Tamil Nadu's government acted within its rights to pass the court also pointed out that the IT Rules, 2021, related to online gaming "is yet to take effect and remains unenforceable as of today." This means there is no current central regulation in place to control online real-money games properly. The judges recognised this gap and supported the state's decision to introduce rules that protect players and the public. They said, "This court views that the state is fully within its competence to enact laws pertaining to online real money games."One challenge to the law was the requirement for players to verify their identity with Aadhaar. Opponents claimed this infringed on privacy rights. But the court rejected this concern, explaining, "Right to privacy carries with it its own limitations and cannot be claimed in absolute. When put on a scale, a compelling public interest outweighs right to privacy."This statement makes clear the court values the need to protect the public from harm above the privacy concerns in this ruling sets a strong precedent. Online gaming platforms must now follow strict rules on who can play, how much money can be bet, how long games can be played, and how they advertise. They must also use Aadhaar verification to prevent misuse or addiction. This marks a shift towards stricter, more localised control of the online gaming industry.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Madras High Court says yes to Aadhaar checks for online rummy, poker players
The Madras High Court has upheld Tamil Nadu's law that regulates online real-money games like rummy and poker. The law sets limits on age, betting amounts, playing time, and advertising, and requires Aadhaar verification in two stages. The court ruled the state government has the right to enact such laws as online gaming affects public health. It dismissed privacy concerns, stating public interest outweighs privacy. This fills a regulatory gap while pending central rules come into force. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads State's authority to regulate is clear Filling a regulatory gap Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Privacy vs Public interest The Madras High Court has backed Tamil Nadu's law that regulates online real-money games such as rummy and poker. The law sets limits on player age, betting amounts, playing time, and advertisements. It also requires a two-step Aadhaar verification process for players. The court rejected petitions from online gaming companies challenging these restrictions, stating the rules are valid and necessary.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice K Rajasekar made a clear point about the potential risks of online real-money games. They said, "In true essence, the online real money games is a trade activity, which, if left unregulated, has immediate implications on health of the public." This highlights the court's concern about the wider social effects, beyond just business gaming companies argued that only the central government has the power to regulate these platforms, especially since the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021, already offer some oversight. The court did not agree. It noted, "Both the Union and state govts have power to enact laws in their own respective subject matter apart from the common pool as enabled in List III (concurrent list). This court cannot hold that state is barred from enacting laws regulating online real money games. It is covered under the subject matter of public health and sanitation which comes under List II (state list)."This ruling confirms that Tamil Nadu's government acted within its rights to pass the court also pointed out that the IT Rules, 2021, related to online gaming "is yet to take effect and remains unenforceable as of today." This means there is no current central regulation in place to control online real-money games properly. The judges recognised this gap and supported the state's decision to introduce rules that protect players and the public. They said, "This court views that the state is fully within its competence to enact laws pertaining to online real money games."One challenge to the law was the requirement for players to verify their identity with Aadhaar. Opponents claimed this infringed on privacy rights. But the court rejected this concern, explaining, "Right to privacy carries with it its own limitations and cannot be claimed in absolute. When put on a scale, a compelling public interest outweighs right to privacy."This statement makes clear the court values the need to protect the public from harm above the privacy concerns in this ruling sets a strong precedent. Online gaming platforms must now follow strict rules on who can play, how much money can be bet, how long games can be played, and how they advertise. They must also use Aadhaar verification to prevent misuse or addiction. This marks a shift towards stricter, more localised control of the online gaming industry.
