Synopsis
The IT Ministry is listening to concerns about new draft IT rules. Officials met with industry and civil society groups. The government is open to suggestions and may extend the feedback deadline. The proposed rules aim to bring user-generated content under stricter regulations. Stakeholders have requested more time and consolidation of guidelines.Krishnan indicated that the government may extend the April 14 deadline for receiving feedback on proposed IT rules amendments and will consider industry and stakeholder views before finalising any changes.
Krishnan said the feedback received ranged from requests for more time to demands for outright withdrawal of the draft amendments.
The backlash comes in the wake of the Centre's proposed amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, that significantly widen the ambit to include "news and current affairs content" posted by non-publisher users such as influencers and content creators.
The draft effectively brings such user-generated content under the same framework that currently applies to registered digital news publishers, expanding the scope of Part III of the rules.
The government on March 30 proposed these draft amendments to IT rules, seeking to also mandate intermediaries' compliance with IT Ministry-issued clarifications, advisories, SOPs and guidelines. The ministry had invited feedback/ comments of stakeholders on the draft amendments to IT rules by April 14, 2026.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Krishnan said that the IT ministry met with industry and stakeholders to understand the concerns.
"...we've had an interaction today with both industry and stakeholders, and a number of useful suggestions came up. They sought a little more time to give their views, which I think we will consider," he said.
The industry has also urged that all the guidelines be consolidated, which Krishnan said, "is a reasonable request, and we will look to see how we can enable such a consolidation".
