Note: MediaNama is hosting a discussion on these issues on the 23rd of October 2019. Apply here to attend. Notification of the Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules 2018 is likely to be completed by January 15, 2020, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said in its affidavit to the Supreme Court, submitted earlier this morning. The updated draft of the Intermediary Guidelines is currently under discussion within the ministry. The affidavit was filed by Ajay Prakash Sawhney, the MeitY Secretary. The Intermediaries Guidelines were last notified on April 13, 2011, called Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011. The Supreme Court had directed the Ministry on September 24 to submit an affidavit giving definite timeline about notifying the rules as it heard Facebook's transfer petition. The Court had directed the Ministry to submit the affidavit by October 15. What will happen in the next three months? As per the affidavit, four steps have to be completed for the notification of the rules: Approval of the draft rules by IT Minister R.S. Prasad Vetting of draft by Ministry of Law and Justice Approval of updated draft by MeitY Notification of New Intermediary Rules by MeitY Increased access to internet necessitates new intermediary liability rules: MeitY Social media use has become more common in India because of “lower internet tariffs, availability of smart devices and last-mile connectivity” Internet as potent tool to cause “unimaginable disruption to the democratic polity” On July 26, 2018, changes to the Intermediaries Guidelines Rules, 2011, were announced…
