No HC relief to digital news portals seeking stay on IT rules

Source: The Indian Express 

What is the news:

The digital news portals seek a stay on the applicability of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on digital news media. But the Delhi High Court has declined to pass any order in favor of the digital news portals. 

What did the digital news portals argue? 

• The digital news portals argued that the executive power to virtually dictate content to digital news portals would squarely violate Article 14 and 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution. 
• They also argue that the rules create a space for the state to enter and control news by way of deletion, modification or blocking, censure, compelled apology and more. 
• But the Delhi High Court rejected the arguments. 

Read more: 

• Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 
• New IT Rules for Social Media and its challenges – Explained, Pointwise