INS urges MeitY to withdraw IT Amendment Rules, 2023

Mumbai: The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) has urged the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) to withdraw the IT Amendment Rules, 2023, which it says will give sweeping powers to the ministry to determine fake or false or misleading information and take down such content.

The society has also asked the ministry to hold discussions with the news media organisation on the topic as it has grave implications for the news industry.

As per the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules 2023 notified by the Meity on April 6, Meity can constitute a fact-checking unit to determine fake news with respect to any business of the central government.


The INS noted that the fact-checking unit will also have the power to issue instructions to intermediaries, including social media platforms, Internet Service Providers and other service providers, to not host such content and take out the content if it has been published.

The ministry had promised to hold consultations with media organisations and media bodies after withdrawing the draft amendments that it had put out in January 2023. The draft amendments faced widespread criticism from media organisations.