Lok Sabha Question No. 1591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Digital India Mission
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1591

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## DIGITAL INDIA MISSION

## † 1591. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) the measures being taken by the Government to improve internet connectivity in rural and far flung areas under the Digital India Mission;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiatives  to  stop  the  spread  of  fake  news  and misinformation;

(c) if so, the policy measures adopted in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has taken any safety measures and implemented any schemes to control the cyber crimes and online fraud; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a): The Government of India launched the National Broadband Mission on 17 th December 2019, with a vision to enable fast-track growth of digital communications infrastructure and provide  affordable  and  universal  broadband  access  for  all.  The  Mission  aims  to  facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services for growth and development throughout the country (especially in rural and remote areas).

The following actions were undertaken to enhance internet connectivity in rural and far flung areas.

- (i) Centralized Right of Way portal: The GatiShakti Sanchar Portal (Centralized Portal for  Right  of  Way  Permissions)  was  launched  on  14 th May 2022,  to  bring  Ease  of Doing Business for the applicants for quick  Right of Way  (RoW) permissions for laying OFC and erecting Telecom towers. The portal has on boarded/integrated all 36 States/UTs and four central ministries.
- (ii) DoT has also come out with ITRoW (Indian Telegraph Right of Way) rules 2016, which were amended in Aug 2022 for the 5G roll-out. These rules provide for the standardization  of  rates  for  over  ground  and  underground  telecom  infrastructure, rates for street furniture for utilization for 5G small cells, and charges applicable for compensation and restoration. DoT has followed up with all states/UTs to align their RoW policies with those of Central Right of Way rules and to clear pending Right of Way applications.

Further,  the  Telecommunication  Act  passed  in  2023  and  in  accordance  with  this  the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 were brought in which will be in force from 1 st January 2025.

(b) to (e): The policies of Government of India are aimed at ensuring an open, safe, trusted and accountable cyberspace for users in the country. The key initiatives taken by Government of  India  to  address  challenges  of  fake  news  and  misinformation  in  the  cyberspace  are  as under:

The  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  ('Ministry')  after  extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 ('IT Rules, 2021') in exercise of the powers given under the Information Technology Act, 2000 ('IT Act'). The IT Rules, 2021 cast specific due diligence obligations on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries,  with  respect  to  the  information  to  make  reasonable  efforts  by  itself  and  to cause  the  user  of  their  computer  resource  that  is  not  to  be  hosted,  displayed,  uploaded, published,  transmitted,  stored  or  shared  on  the  platforms.  Intermediaries  are  required  to ensure  their  accountability  that  includes  their  expeditious  action  towards  removal  of  the unlawful information within the timelines prescribed under Rules. For this purpose, unlawful information  comprises  prohibited  misinformation,  patently  false  information,  untrue  or misleading in nature.

The IT Rules, 2021 also require the appointment of a Grievance Officer by intermediaries to resolve  the  complaints.  Such  Officer  is  required  to  provide  time-bound  redressal  of  the grievances of the victim / complainant against the violation of these rules. In case the victim / complainant is aggrieved by the decision of an intermediary's Grievance Officer or does not receive timely redressal, he/she may prefer an appeal to the Grievance Appellate Committee within  thirty  days  of  the  receipt  of  communication  from  the  Grievance  Officer.  In  case  of failure  to  observe  due  diligence  as  provided  in  the  IT  Rules,  2021,  intermediaries  lose  the exemption from liability for any third-party information, data or communication link, under IT Act.

As  an  additional  due  diligence  measure  in  IT  Rules,  2021,  the  significant  social  media intermediaries ('SSMI')(i.e. a social media intermediary having 50 lakhs or above number of registered  users  in  India)publish  periodic  compliance  reports  mentioning  the  information links that it has removed or disabled using automated tools. An SSMI, among other additional due  diligences,  is  also  required  to  cooperate  with  Law  Enforcement  Agencies  (LEA)  for prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or punishment by enabling identification of the first originator of information related to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of  the  State,  friendly  relations  with  foreign  States,  or  public  order,  or  of  incitement  to  an offence relating to the above or in relation with rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Further, to address the emerging harms in the cyberspace like misinformation Ministry has conducted  multiple  consultations  with  industry  stakeholders/  social  media  platforms  and issued advisories through which the intermediaries were reminded about their due-diligence obligations  outlined  under  theIT  Rules,  2021and  advised  on  countering  unlawful  content including  malicious  'synthetic  media'  and  'deepfakes'.  The  government  regularly  engages with technology companies to sensitise them on the due diligence requirements under these Rules.

The Designated Officer appointed under the IT Act issues blocking orders to intermediaries for blocking access to specific information/ link (including the betting or gambling sites) in the  interest  of  sovereignty  and  integrity,  defence  of  India,  security  of  the  State,  friendly relations  with  foreign  States  or  public  order  or  for  inciting  cognizable  offence  relating  to above.  MeitY  follows  due  process  as  envisaged  in  the  Information Technology  (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009.

In addition to above, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ('BNS') enacted in 2023 provides for  stringent  punishment  against  various  crimes  including  cyber  crimes. The  BNS  interalia defines 'Organised crime' which includes economic offences, cyber-crimes, by any person or a group of persons, either as a member of an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate.  Several other provisions for punishment under the BNS may also be attracted in case of a cheating including cheating by personation, criminal breach of trust, forgery, etc. Most of these sections provide for non-bailable offences.

To  spread awareness  against cyber-crimes,  the  Government  has  been  taking  various initiatives  from  time  to  time.  These,  inter  alia,  includes  cyber  safety  tips  through  social media, publishing of information security best practices, organizing cyber safety and security awareness programmes, etc.

MeitY  launched  a  program  titled  Information  Security  Education  & Awareness  (ISEA)  to generate  awareness  among  users  while  using  internet  and  to  highlight  the  importance  of internet related ethics advising them not to share rumours/fake news. A dedicated website has been  created  for  information  security  awareness  that  generates  and  upgrades  relevant awareness material on a regular basis, and can be accessed here https://www.infosecawareness.in.

The  Indian  Computer  Emergency  Response  Team  (CERT-In)  has  been  taking  various measures to prevent cyber frauds. These include issuance of alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities and countermeasures to protect computers, mobile phones, networks and data on regular basis, conducting cyber security mock drills to assess the cyber security posture and preparedness of organisations.

RBI  and  banks  have  also  been  organising  awareness  campaigns  through  dissemination  of short SMS, radio campaign, publicity on prevention of cybercrime etc. Further, RBI has been conducting  electronic-banking  awareness  and  training  (e-BAAT)  programmes  about  frauds and  risk  mitigation.  Further,  customers  can  also  report  financial  frauds  on  the  official customer care website or branches of the banks.

Further,  to  strengthen  the  mechanism  to  deal  with  cyber  crimes  in  a  comprehensive  and coordinated manner, the Central Government has taken steps which, interalia, include-

- (i) Establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C);
- (ii) Launching  &  operationalisation  of  'National  Cyber  Crime  Reporting  Portal' (https://cybercrime.gov.in) and toll-free Helpline number '1930' to enable public to  report  cyber  crimes,  with  special  focus  on  cyber  crimes  against  women  and children;
- (iii) Launching  'Citizen  Financial  Cyber  Fraud  Reporting  and  Management  System' for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters;
- (iv) Development  of  the  Massive  Open  Online  Courses  (MOOC)  platform,  namely 'CyTrain' portal for capacity building of police officers/judicial officers through online course on critical aspects of cyber crime investigation, forensics, prosecution etc. along with certification. More than 96,288 Police Officers from States/UTs  are  registered  and  more  than  70,992  Certificates  issued  through  the portal.

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