IT rules draft proposal to set up grievance committee goes live for public feedback

The information technology ministry has invited public feedback on proposed amendments to the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021. The proposed amendments include the creation of a Grievance Appellate Committee, which is supposed to hear appeals against the decision of grievance officers. The 2021 rules require digital publications and social media platforms to appoint a grievance officer to address user complaints.

The IT rules were notified in February 2021 and aim to regulate digital platforms and social media platforms. Several petitions have been filed challenging the rules on the grounds that they would curb press freedom. The high courts of Kerala, Madras and Bombay have passed interim orders on petitions challenging the IT rules.

According to the draft proposal, the grievance officer must “acknowledge the complaint, including suspension, removal or blocking” within 24 hours and resolve the complaint in 15 days”. It also requires social media platforms to address a complaint seeking removal of posts within 72 hours.

Social media platforms are also required to regularly publish the rules and regulations, privacy policies and user agreements on their websites. They should also ensure that their users do not display or share any information that belongs to another person and “to which the user does not have any right”.

Additionally, the amendment calls for intermediaries to “respect the rights accorded to the citizens under the Constitution of India”.