New IT rules will have terrible chilling effect on free speech, Bombay HC told; SC likely to hear transfer petition on Tuesday says Centre

MUMBAI: The new Information Technology Rules of 2021 are “so wide and so vague’’ they will have a “terrible chilling effect’’ and a “draconian effect’’ on the people who want to put content on the internet, media, editors, publishers too, contended a petitioner before the Bombay high court on Monday. For the first time, the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeks to regulate content and free speech beyond the reasonable restrictions permitted under article 19(2) of the Constitution, submitted senior counsel Darius Khambata, appearing for a digital portal that has raised a constitutional challenge to the validity of the new, amended rules. He likened it to policing the media and said “9 out of 10 people may not say anything out of fear’’ as the two rules empower the I&B ministry to direct deletion and modification of content.