Madras HC issues notice to Centre on plea against IT rules

The Madras High Court on Thursday asked the Union government to respond to a petition by Carnatic musician TM Krishna, who challenged the newly enforced rules on digital and social media as unconstitutional for how it impacts the freedom of expression and the right to privacy.

Including Krishna’s petition, there are now at least eight pleas filed in various high courts across the country challenging the Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 that came into force on May 26.

“Without privacy it’s impossible to create and perform. And the privacy that ought to be afforded to us all is intrinsically linked with our right to freedom of expression.