Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
This legal framework is critical for understanding digital governance, the regulation of online content, the balance between freedom of speech and platform responsibility, and the government's role in the digital ecosystem. It's a frequently debated topic in the context of digital rights and platform accountability.
Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, provides 'safe harbour' protection to online intermediaries, exempting them from liability for third-party content hosted on their platforms, provided they adhere to due diligence requirements. The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, further elaborate on these due diligence requirements and content moderation obligations.