PIL in Bombay HC challenges new IT Rules for intermediaries

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been moved in the Bombay high court (HC) challenging the recently notified Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, issued under the Information Technology (IT) Act.

The PIL moved by senior journalist Nikhil Wagle has termed the new IT Rules as arbitrary, illegal and contrary to the fundamental rights under Articles 14 (equality before law), 19 (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution of India and ultra vires the IT Act. The PIL is expected to come up for hearing in due course.