A petition was filed in the Madras High Court challenging the entire purview of Intermediary Guidelines 2021 (rules for both social media intermediaries and OTT platforms, which the petitioner argued was against fundamental rights and "artistic speech" and also ultra vires to IT Act 2000. On Thursday, the Madras HC issued a notice in this regard and urged the Indian government to file a reply to the plea within three weeks, reported Bar and Bench. The petition was filed by noted Carnatic singer and artist TM Krishna and drafted by Internet Freedom Foundation. In the petition which is available on IFF's website, Krishna said, "..the Impugned Rules offend my right as an artist and cultural commentator by both imposing a chilling effect on free speech, and by impinging on my right to privacy. Part II of the Impugned Rules violate my rights as a user of social media services, while Part III of the same Impugned Rules is in breach of my rights as a creator of online content." In February this year, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting released the Intermediary Rules 2021 (2021 Rules), which seek to increase government control and regulation over social media intermediaries and the content posted on such platforms. Part III of the Rules also bring OTT platforms and digital news media platforms under the purview of the IT Act. Grounds on which the petition against the Rules has been filed Violation of freedom of speech…
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