Lok Sabha Question No. 3078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Grievance Redressal Mechanism for Online Curated Platforms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3078

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2023

GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM FOR ONLINE CURATED PLATFORMS

3078. COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is planning to take initiatives to decriminalize the  regulations  binding  the  creative  economy  given  their  impact  on freedom of  expression  and  ease  of  doing  business  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  nurture  better awareness on consumer protection, the IT (Information Technology) Rules, 2021, digital rights and responsible user behaviour to ensure a safe online environment in the country;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  set  up  a singular and exclusive grievance redressal mechanism for the online curated platforms; and
- (d) the details of  progress  reports  of  all  the  national  schemes introduced by the Government along with allocation and utilization of funds for its implementation, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR):

(a)  Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT)  has informed  that  as  part  of  the  decriminalization  exercise,  the  Government has moved the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 entailing decriminalization of 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/Departments. The Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 28.7.2023 and 2.8.2023 respectively.

(b) For awareness generation about the Information Technology (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021 various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry viz. (i) bringing  out an information booklet and FAQs on the Rules (ii) Advertisement in newspapers  informing  citizens  about  the  new  rules,  (iii)    Webinars  at national  and  regional  levels  for  creating  awareness  amongst  various stakeholders.

Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  has  informed that  they  have  taken  various  initiatives  through  print  media,  electronic media and social media to ensure safe online environment in the country. Through its Information Security Education & Awareness (ISEA) program, MeitY  has  been  creating  awareness  by  highlighting  the  importance  of digital  safety  while  using  internet.  A  dedicated  website  for  information security  awareness  (https://www.infosecawareness.in)  provides  relevant awareness  material.  ISEA  has  also  published  an  exclusive  handbook namely  'Information  Security  Awareness  Handbook  for  Women',  'Cyber Security tips for women' and 'Online Safety tips for Women @ Home during Covid 19'.

(c) The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021  provides  for  a  Three  Tier  Grievance  Redressal Mechanism, as under, to look into complaints relating to violation of the Code:

- a) Level-I- Publisher
- b) Level-II- Self -Regulating Body (SRB) of publishers, and
- c) Level-III- Over Sight Mechanism of Central Government.

The Ministry has registered 2 SRBs for OTT platform to function as Level-II of  the  grievance  redressal  mechanism  and  also  constituted  the  Inter Departmental Committee (IDC), as provided under Rule 14 of the IT Rules, 2021, at Level-III.

(d) The schemes of Central Government on various subjects, as allocated under the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, are implemented by  respective  Ministries/Department. The details relating to utilization of funds etc.  in respect of these schemes are available in Annual Reports, websites  etc.  of  the      concerned  Ministries/Departments,  which  are available in public domain.

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