CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 7
THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly disapproves of the amendments to the IT Rules 2021 giving powers to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to fact check any “fake, or false, or misleading” information about central government and ask the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Google to take them down. If these companies refuse, then they will lose their “safe harbor immunity” that guarantees them protection against any illegal or false content posted by users of these platforms.
Such sweeping powers to the PIB are tantamount to outright censorship affecting all users of these platforms. This is totally anti-democratic and unacceptable. These amendments to the IT Rules must immediately be withdrawn.
