Lok Sabha Question No. 3106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Blocking Websites of Magazines, Social Media and Journals
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Raja A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION. NO. 3106

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 19.03.2025

## BLOCKING WEBSITES OF MAGAZINES, SOCIAL MEDIA AND JOURNALS

## 3106. SHRI RAJA A:

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

- (a) the number of websites of magazines, social media, journals that were blocked under the Information Technology Act during each of the last five years, State-wise;
- (b)  whether  due  process  of  law  was  followed  before  issuing  the  blocking  order  and  the penalty/fines imposed;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  intends  to  introduce  greater  transparency  in  the  process  of blocking  digital  content  including  publicly  disclosing  orders  and  reasons  for  such  actions sincemany courts have passed orders against such arbitrary actions in view of the freedom of Press in democracy; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (d):  The  policies  of  the  Government  are  aimed  at  ensuring  a  safe,  trusted  and accountable Internet for its users while ensuring the Internet remains free from any form of unlawful  content  or  information.  To  help  achieve  this  aim,  the  Central  Government,  in exercise of its powers under Information Technology Act, 2000, has notified the Information Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021  ('IT Rules').  These  rules  cast  specific  obligations  on  intermediaries,  including  social  media intermediaries, to observe due diligence while discharging its duties. Failure to comply with the obligations results in the loss of exemption from liability for any third-party information, data, or communication link made available by them, and are liable for the same as per law. Such obligations  include  the  making  of  reasonable  efforts  by  the  intermediary  to  cause  its users not to host, display, upload, publish, transmit or store any information that knowingly or intentionally violates any law. Further, intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, are also required to remove any unlawful information as and when brought to their  knowledge  either  through  a  court  order  or  through  a  notice  by  an  appropriate government  or  its  authorized  agency.  Such  unlawful  information  includes  information prohibited  under  any  law  for  the  time  being  in  force  in  relation  to  the  interest  of  the sovereignty and integrity of India; security of the State; friendly relations with foreign States; public order; decency or morality; in relation to contempt of court; defamation; incitement to an offence relating to the above, or any information which is prohibited under any law for the time being in force.

The objectionable  content  is  examined  by  an  Inter-Departmental  Committee  as  constituted under rule 14 of the aforesaid rules having representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence including domain experts from Press Council of India (PCI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Confederation of Indian Industry (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 InterDepartmental Committee.

The  notices  for  takedown  of  any  such  information  on  the  intermediary  platform  are  sent directly  by  the  respective  appropriate  governments  or  their  authorised  agencies  where  the appropriate  government  can  be  both  the  State  and  Central  Government  as  per  the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.

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