Lok Sabha Question No. 3684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Blocking of Independent Media Platforms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3684 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## BLOCKING OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA PLATFORMS

3684. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  issued  confidential  notices  under Section 69A of the IT Act to block independent media platforms like Bolta Hindustan and National Dastak  without providing specific reasons  or  prior  warnings  thereby  undermining  transparency  and accountability;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that measures under  Section  69A  are  not  used  to  suppress  independent  journalism and freedom  of expression especially during critical times like elections when diverse perspectives are crucial; and
- (c)  the  reasons  for  which  the  affected  media  platforms  are  denied access to blocking orders or an opportunity for a fair hearing, violating their  right  to  due  process  and diminishing  public  trust  in  democratic governance?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN): (a)  to  (c):  The  Government  has  notified    the  Information  Technology (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021 (IT Rules, 2021) on 25th February, 2021 under Information Technology Act, 2000. The Rules provide for a Code of Ethics for the publishers of news  and  current  affairs  on  digital  media  and  publishers  of  online curated content (OTT platforms). The publishers of news and current affairs on digital media  including YouTube  news  channels  Bolta  Hindustan  and  National  Dastak  are covered  under  the  provisions  of  IT  Rules,  2021,  Part-III  of  which provides  for  issuance  of  directions  for  blocking  of  content  covered under  Section  69A  of  the  Information  Technology  Act,  2000  (IT  Act, 2000). Section  69A  of  the  IT  Act,  2000,  inter-alia,  empowers  the  Central Government  to  issue  directions  to  any  Government  agency  or  an intermediary  to  block  content  in  the  interest  of  sovereignty  and integrity  of  India,  defence  of  India,  security  of  the  State,  friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement  to  the  commission  of  any  cognizable  offence  relating  to such matters. Appropriate directions are issued for blocking of access of such information under IT Rules, 2021 by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. There  are  sufficient  procedural  safeguards  before  exercise  of  the provision  of  blocking  of  content  under  Section  69A.  The  concerned content is examined by a Committee having representatives from the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Women and Child Development, etc. The Committee also  has  domain experts from Press Council of India, FICCI, and CII. Further,  the  rules  provide  for  an  opportunity  to  the  publisher  or  the intermediary concerned to appear and submit their reply and clarifications before the Committee.

*****