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The Ministry of Electronics and Technology (MeitY) recently released draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) to solicit public feedback. Stakeholders have expressed concerns about the limited consultation period and are requesting an extension. Feedback is currently being accepted until February 18. Experts state that though the implementation timeline is of two years, be it MSME's or major companies, they are now a data fiduciary. 

The draft rules mandate the localization of personal data within India, except in cases where exemptions are granted by the central government. Additionally, the rules require parents and guardians to verify their identity before individuals under 18 can register on online platforms or social media.

Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw has expressed his intent to avoid overly complex regulations akin to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Instead, India seeks a simpler framework that encourages innovation while upholding user privacy.

S. Krishnan, Secretary of the IT Ministry, who assumed office at MeitY shortly after the passage of the DPDP Act, highlighted the extensive consultations involved in drafting the rules. He emphasized the effort to balance data privacy with business needs.

Vinay Butani, Partner at Economic Laws Practice, remarked, "The limited public consultation period is a concern. The short timeframe for feedback could hinder comprehensive stakeholder engagement and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the final rules."

Butani also noted ambiguities in the DPDPA rules, particularly regarding breach notification procedures and specifics of security safeguards. These gaps, he said, could pose challenges to implementation and lead to inconsistencies in compliance, including difficulties with verifiable consent mechanisms.

The DPDP Act, passed by Parliament on August 9, 2023, followed the Supreme Court's recognition of privacy as a fundamental right six years earlier. However, the Act has yet to come into effect as its rules and regulations are still being finalized.

Akshayy Nanda, Partner at Saraf and Partners, urged organizations to begin compliance efforts without delay. "Compliance is a complex, time-consuming process that often requires a thorough overhaul of business practices," Nanda said. "Organizations that delay risk falling behind, facing legal penalties, and damaging their reputations. The time to act is now."

In addition to concerns about the consultation process, the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) raised preliminary issues regarding five key areas in the draft rules: vagueness, excessive reliance on discretionary powers, weak oversight and accountability mechanisms, broad exemptions for state processing, and a move toward universal and mandatory registrations.

The IFF highlighted problems with the requirement for Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC) for children’s data under Rule 10. It argued that without internet-wide age-gating, only users identified as children would need VPC, potentially paving the way for mandatory age verification for all users via government-issued credentials. This could lead to mass surveillance, violate data minimization principles, and result in over-collection and prolonged storage of personal data.

Siddharth Chandrashekhar, advocate & counsel, Bombay High Court pointed out, "Granting government agencies unfettered access to personal data in the name of national security is like giving a wolf the keys to the sheep pen. While national security is paramount, the absence of robust safeguards invites misuse and could erode public trust. When the gatekeepers themselves are unchecked, privacy becomes an illusion, and liberty is the silent casualty. Those wary of digital snooping, are will within their rights to question if this provision sacrifices privacy at the altar of surveillance."

Jaspreet Singh, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat, noted, "The draft rules leave certain areas open to interpretation and require further refinement. For example, the designation of organizations as Significant Data Fiduciaries (SDF) by an officer appointed by the MeitY Secretary raises important questions about compliance and operations."

The limited consultation period, coupled with ambiguities in critical provisions, has raised concerns among stakeholders. Experts emphasize the need for detailed guidelines and a more inclusive approach to ensure effective implementation.

DPDP Rules: Stakeholders seek extension of consultation period

The Ministry of Electronics and Technology (MeitY) on Friday released draft rules of Data Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) for public consultation. The policy think tanks and civil society members are raising concerns over multiple aspects of the draft rules. The government will seek feedback from stakeholders till February 18. 

In an overview of the draft rules of DPDPA, personal data has been mandated to be localized in India, barring in cases and countries as exempted by the Centre. Further, the rules state that the parents and guardians will have to verify their identity before an individual under 18 years of age can sign up for online platform or on social media. 

Experts suggest that the parental consent rules are likely to add a heavy compliance burden on all parties involved. E-commerce, social media and gaming platforms will all come under the category of data fiduciaries.

The DPDP Act was passed by Parliament on August 9, 2023 — about six years after the Supreme Court upheld privacy as a fundamental right. Despite being announced last year, the Act has not yet taken effect since its rules and regulations are still have not been released or finalised.

Dhruv Garg, Partner - Indian Governance & Policy Project said, “The public consultation on draft DPDP rules is likely to see expansive and critical discussion on multiple aspects. Provisions relating to data localisation for certain specified personal data when being processed by significant data fiduciary will definitely take centre stage. Additionally, restrictions and requirements imposed on sharing of personal data with foreign state and their agencies will see concerns from data fiduciaries operating across jurisdictions.” 

The draft rules of DPDPA states that, "A Data Fiduciary shall adopt appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure that verifiable consent of the parent is obtained before the processing of any personal data of a child and shall observe due diligence, for checking that the individual identifying herself as the parent is an adult who is identifiable if required in connection with compliance with any law for the time being in force in India."

This is in reference to reliable details of identity and age available with the Data Fiduciary. It further refers to the details voluntarily being provided identity and age or a virtual token mapped which is issued by an entity entrusted by law or the Central Government or a State Government. 

Garg said, “The language and intent of provisions in relation to verifiable parental consent and proof of adulthood of parents will need greater clarity in due course. Civil society may stress on the need to create balance between privacy and power of government to access data on ground of national security/state function.”

Multiple think tank policy consultants have raised concerns over the challenges posed by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Civil Society members have raised severe concerns over government's intent to demand and collect data of Indian citizens citing national security concerns. 

Aparajita Bharti, Founding Partner, The Quantum Hub Consulting said, “DPDP Rules have been much awaited and a draft gives broad direction to the industry to start preparing for compliance. However, from the rules it is still not clear what the implementation timelines are likely to be.” 

Bharti further said, “On Children’s data, while the government has left room for innovation on age estimation, there are more specific obligations for verifying parents identity. This may lead to a high compliance burden on platforms. There are also some positives around allowing tracking of children's data and behavioural monitoring for their safety and ensuring that they do not encounter inappropriate content. One key concern in the rules is potential room for bringing data localisation requirements for significant data fiduciaries as they mention that a committee may do so in the future. The draft rules also do not explicitly address exemptions, processing grounds, or other frameworks specifically tailored for AI model training purposes.” 

Experts argue that the central government retains the authority to restrict the cross-border transfer of specific personal data by significant data fiduciaries while Rule 15 does not explain the exemptions under Section 17(2)(B) related to research, archiving, or statistical purposes, leaving ambiguity around whether AI models trained on personal data for research are covered by these exemptions. 

Kazim Rizvi, Founding Director, The Dialogue – a thinktank – said, “The DPDP Rules provide essential guidance for implementing the legislation. However, advancing the framework requires multi-stakeholder discussions to offer deeper insights into its application, fostering innovation while safeguarding the rights of data principals. Key areas that demand further attention include verifiable consent mechanisms, cross-border data transfers, and breach notification processes."

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/dpdp-act-meity-releases-draft-data-protection-rules-for-public-consultation-52286.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">DPDP Act: MeitY releases draft data protection rules for public consultation</a>

The DPDP Act has a provision to impose a penalty of up to ₹250 crore on data fiduciaries which are bodies responsible for determining the purpose and means of processing of personal data.

The DPDPA rules, which have been delayed for several months, will reinforce the existing data privacy law, while amendment to the IT rules will address crucial issues like artificial intelligence-driven misinformation and deepfakes until a comprehensive Digital India Act is formulated.

Policy think tanks, civil society call DPDP draft rules 'vague', raise concerns

The Ministry of Home Affairs is actively monitoring illegal Chinese gambling companies that are disguised as legitimate Real Money Gaming (RMG) companies in India. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been rigorously banning these Chinese apps and websites, but they continue to resurface under new identities.

These Chinese apps and websites have become hubs for money laundering in the country, posing a potential threat to national security and contributing to gambling addiction among citizens. In September 2024, an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovered a ₹400-crore fraud involving Chinese nationals.

Four Indians associated with the online gaming app Fiewin, who supported the Chinese nationals in the fraud, were arrested by ED officials in Kolkata. The suspects allegedly laundered money through cryptocurrency by defrauding Indian users of ₹400 crore. 

A senior policy leader at a leading RMG firm commented, “Goa is becoming a hotspot for registering Chinese companies involved in betting and gambling. These companies often masquerade as RMG firms registered in India to launder money, causing significant losses to the public exchequer. This is also because of China recently adopting stricter policy around gambling that such companies and individuals are expanding their operations aggressively in India.”

The source added, “The bigger issue is defrauding Indian users and taking their hard-earned money under false claims of legitimacy. This undermines trust in genuine RMG platforms and pushes players toward illegal gambling apps and websites.”

It’s worth noting that the offshore sports betting market receives an estimated $100 billion annually in deposits from India and has been growing at 20% per year over the last three years, according to a Think Change Forum (TCF) report.

Despite the best enforcement efforts, the illegal offshore betting industry is expected to continue growing at a rate of at least 20% annually under the new GST regime, potentially leading to tax losses of ₹6,72,205 crore by 2026, according to the report.

Additionally, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs raised concerns with the Registrar of Companies (ROC), urging scrutiny of multiple companies with Chinese directors or investments operating from the same address. This led the ROC to establish a dedicated cell to investigate shell companies with Chinese nationals as directors and investors.

Storyboard18 reached out to the E-Gaming Federation and All India Gaming Federation for their perspectives on Chinese companies masquerading as RMG firms in India. However, neither organization responded.

From 2022 to 2024, the IT Ministry issued 692 blocking orders targeting online betting, gambling, and gaming websites and apps. In November 2023, the Ministry issued blocking orders against 22 illegal betting apps and websites, including Mahadev Book Online, which is under investigation for money laundering in Chhattisgarh. In February, the Ministry blocked 138 betting apps and websites, including platforms like Mahadev, Parimatch, Fairplay, 1XBET, Lotus365, Dafabet, and Betwaysatt.

Storyboard18 also reported that RMG operators submitted a list of over 540 illegal websites and apps to Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) following the implementation of the 28% tax regime on October 1, 2023. 

“The problem is that these Chinese or offshore betting and gambling companies quickly reappear with new domain names and resume operations,” said an RMG operator. “There is a need for whitelisting apps, and the government should create more awareness about this. We have proposed this solution, but no progress has been made so far.”

The first tranche of Chinese-origin apps was blocked in June 2020 when MeitY banned 59 apps through a single order.

In December 2023, the Finance Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that, as of October 31, 2023, MeitY had blocked a total of 581 apps under Section 69A, of which 174 were related to betting and gambling, and 87 were loan-lending apps. Other banned apps included PUBG and Garena Free Fire. However, the ministry did not specify when these 581 apps were blocked.

Govt intensifies surveillance on Chinese companies masquerading as RMG operators

The Real Money Gaming (RMG) industry is expressing disappointment over the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) showing indifference to its participation in the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), scheduled for February in Delhi. Furthermore, RMG representatives have not been granted a meeting with the MIB in over two months.

The WAVES 2025 will be held from February 5–9 in New Delhi, focusing on four key pillars: Broadcasting & Infotainment, Digital Media & Innovation, AVGC-XR, and Films.

The E-Gaming Federation (EGF) recently introduced CityQuest: Shades of Bharat in collaboration with the MIB as part of the "Create in India Challenge" for WAVES 2025. Originally intended to launch during the WAVES, the game is co-powered by Games24x7, one of the country’s leading RMG players. However, EGF launched the game without the presence of Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Sources claim that MIB has refused to be seen beside RMG players at the summit. 

An RMG representative told Storyboard18, “The bureaucrats seem open to including RMG as part of WAVES, but the I&B Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, remains hesitant. We have been waiting patiently for a platform to showcase our contributions to the industry.”

It’s noteworthy that the Game Developers Association of India (GDAI) has partnered with the MIB to highlight various video game launches at the event, while the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) is working with the ministry to organize an esports championship. However, the RMG sector has no representation at WAVES.

India’s gaming market grew 23% year-over-year (YoY) by revenue, reaching $3.8 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year, despite a 28% blanket goods and services tax (GST) imposed on online gaming, according to a report by gaming-focused venture capital firm Lumikai. The report highlighted that RMG remains the primary revenue driver for the industry, contributing $2.4 billion of the total. In-app purchases were the fastest-growing segment, increasing by 41% YoY. RMG firms managed to add $400 million to their topline in FY24 despite absorbing the GST burden, thanks to a packed live sports calendar that included two world cups and the IPL.

Another RMG representative, speaking anonymously, shared, “It’s disheartening that despite being a significant contributor to the gaming industry’s growth, the government continues to ignore us. We pay substantial taxes yet have no platform to showcase our progress.”

“The government needs to resolve its internal disagreements within the MIB to support the growth of the RMG sector,” the representative added.

The RMG industry faces ongoing legal challenges in Indian courts, with no clear outcomes. A source close to the matter revealed to Storyboard18 that the MIB is reluctant to promote RMG as an industry due to these pending legal cases.

Storyboard18 was the first to report the Indian government’s decision to separate RMG from the broader video gaming sector. Under this policy, RMG platforms will be overseen by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), while video games for entertainment and content will remain under the MIB’s jurisdiction.

The source further explained, “The MIB has refused to engage with the RMG sector. For over two months, neither industry federations nor individual players have managed to secure meetings with MIB officials. This clearly demonstrates their intention to treat RMG as distinct from the video gaming industry.”

Earlier, on September 6, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had sent a letter to MIB, MeitY, and NITI Aayog seeking clarity on distinguishing between games of skill and games of chance. This distinction is crucial for drafting a policy formalizing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in online gaming.

The proposed policy would permit full FDI in online real-money gaming, provided the investments exclude betting or gambling activities. NITI Aayog, India's premier policy think tank, is working to establish these definitions to ensure a robust long-term framework for the gaming ecosystem.

The ongoing discord between the RMG sector and the MIB highlights a significant divide in how the gaming industry is perceived and supported in India. An expert said that collaboration, rather than exclusion, should be key to drive unified vision for the online gaming industry’s future.

RMG players sidelined by MIB for WAVES, seek equal treatment

In a significant boost for the video gaming industry, the Indian government has decided to separate Real Money Gaming (RMG) from the video gaming sector. The longstanding demand to differentiate between entertainment-focused gaming and pay-to-play gaming has finally been addressed. This move aims to enable the government to develop more targeted and effective policies for both the RMG and video gaming industries.

Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), addressed key concerns of game developers during a closed-door roundtable at the 16th edition of the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC). Speaking to Storyboard18, developers present at the session confirmed, "The government has decided to distinctly separate the RMG industry from the video gaming sector. The Secretary clarified that video games designed for entertainment and content will fall under the jurisdiction of the MIB."

Another developer added, "The RMG industry will be overseen by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The Secretary emphasized that the government understands these are two fundamentally different industries and cannot be regulated in the same manner."

Manish Agarwal, Board Member of the Game Developers Association of India, remarked, "This bifurcation was inevitable. The video gaming and interactive entertainment industry thrives on creative content. As the MIB Secretary pointed out, entertainment is central to this industry. Therefore, it naturally aligns with MIB, which also governs other entertainment sectors like OTT platforms, movies, and radio."

Agarwal continued, "In contrast, the RMG industry operates on a cash-in, cash-out model, which leans more toward technology and app-based transactions rather than deep, narrative-driven content. It's logical for MeitY to oversee this sector, with distinct regulations for each industry."

Developers also urged the government to support education and training initiatives in game development at premier institutions in India.

Sridhar Muppidi, Chairperson of the Game Developers Association of India, stated, "India has only 25,000 game developers compared to 6 million globally. Despite a large number of gamers, we lack the talent pool to capitalize on this opportunity."

Muppidi added, "We’ve requested the government to establish a game development school on par with IITs and to introduce game development courses in colleges. This could address the immediate talent gap by incorporating game development into top-tier educational institutions."

He also cautioned, "The government should avoid imposing restrictive regulations on the nascent gaming industry. Over-regulation at this stage could stifle growth. Once the industry matures, regulatory frameworks can be revisited."

Earlier, on September 6, Storyboard18 reported that the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had sent a letter to MIB, MeitY, and NITI Aayog seeking clarity on distinguishing between games of skill and games of chance. This distinction is crucial for drafting a policy formalizing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in online gaming.

The proposed policy would permit full FDI in online real-money gaming, provided the investments exclude betting or gambling activities. NITI Aayog, India's premier policy think tank, is working to establish these definitions to ensure a robust long-term framework for the gaming ecosystem.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/small-part-of-prasar-bharati-ott-will-be-subscription-based-rest-all-free-mibs-sanjay-jaju-47312.htm">Small part of Prasar Bharati OTT will be subscription-based; rest all free, says MIB's Sanjay Jaju</a>

EXCLUSIVE: India’s gaming industry gets clarity, RMG sector to be regulated by MeitY

The Delhi High Court will hear petitions challenging the constitutionality of the IT Rules, 2021, at 2.30 PM on Monday. Approximately 17 petitions have been filed across India by individuals, associations, and organizations. The petitions were filed citing government's control on social media services, video streaming platforms and digital news outlets. 

On August 14, 2024, the Delhi High Court directed that the cases be categorized by issue and appointed Advocates Shashank Mishra and Kirtiman Singh as nodal counsels for the petitioners and respondents, respectively. The court also instructed all parties to complete pleadings within four weeks and submit written arguments.

During the October 14, 2024, hearing, the Bench, with the consensus of all counsels, decided to split the hearings into two parts: first addressing challenges to Part III of the IT Rules, 2021, and then challenges to Part II. The IT Rules, 2021, which significantly impact online privacy and freedom of expression by granting the government broad authority over digital platforms, are being challenged on constitutional grounds.

It was decided that proceedings would begin with arguments against Part III (Code of Ethics and Procedure and Safeguards in Relation to Digital Media) and then move to Part II (Due Diligence by Intermediaries and Grievance Redressal Mechanism). Arguments on Part III will commence on November 11, 2024, led by Senior Advocate Darius Khambata, followed by other counsel. Arguments against Part II will be heard afterward.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, introduced the IT Rules, 2021, on February 25, 2021. These rules expand government oversight over social media intermediaries, including content shared by users. Additionally, they bring online content and digital news media under the jurisdiction of a government-appointed committee.

Since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021, at least 17 separate constitutional challenges have been filed in various High Courts across the country by individuals, associations, and organizations.

Delhi HC to hear petitions challenging constitutionality of IT Rules

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is currently testing anti-deepfake technology to combat the malicious use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scamming unsuspecting individuals. Recently, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, shared a shocking account of an AI-driven scam that targeted his company.

At the NVIDIA AI Summit in Mumbai, a source familiar with CERT-In’s efforts confirmed that the agency is actively testing this anti-deepfake technology. “The technology will not only detect deepfakes but will also support prosecution of such offenders in a court of law.”

Referring to the Airtel Chairman’s experience, the source added, “The software can detect fake audio as well as video, which will aid in combating fake news that stirs public alarm. MeitY immediately takes down such videos in collaboration with social media intermediaries.”

One recent case involved SP Oswal, Chairman of Vardhman Group, who lost ₹7 crore after scammers, posing as government officials and using fake documents along with virtual settings, persuaded him to transfer funds.

The Election Commission expressed serious concerns about Deepfake AI and warned of strict action against those spreading fake narratives. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar warned of strict measures against those using Artificial Intelligence and deepfakes to spread misinformation about elections. 

In December 2023, CERT-In issued an advisory informing citizens about the rising use of AI and deepfake technology by scammers. According to the advisory, scammers harvest social media profiles and other websites to gather videos, photos, and other personal details, then create convincing deepfakes that mimic real voices and faces of the victims’ friends or family. These deepfakes are used in schemes like fake kidnapping or ransom calls, creating urgency to coerce victims into sending money, often in the form of gift cards or cryptocurrency.

In November 2023, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the government would begin drafting regulations specifically for deepfakes. After consultations with multiple stakeholders and platforms, Vaishnaw stated, “We will start drafting the regulations today, and very soon, we will have specific regulations for deepfakes.”

These forthcoming regulations are anticipated to include penalties for creating or sharing deepfakes and may also establish guidelines to help users identify deepfake content.

Additionally, Google has partnered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to share crucial voting information via Google Search and YouTube. Google also announced its support of Shakti, The India Election Fact-Checking Collective, and joined the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) as a steering committee member. C2PA is a global standards organization dedicated to certifying the authenticity of digital content.

Meta, in collaboration with the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline to tackle AI-driven misinformation, particularly deepfakes. Furthering its consumer education efforts, Meta also rolled out initiatives like the ‘Know What’s Real’ campaign on WhatsApp and Instagram to educate users on recognizing and reporting suspicious content.

MeitY's CERT-In trials anti-deepfake tech to combat AI-driven scams

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has referred the Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting proposal to a committee of secretaries. According to sources, this committee includes representatives from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Space (DoS), and MIB. Initially, the D2M broadcasting proposal was intended to go directly to the cabinet.

Direct-to-Mobile is a broadcasting technology that enables users to receive multimedia content on their phones without an internet connection, similar to FM radio, where signals are transmitted and received by a device’s receiver. The government plans to roll-out D2M nationwide especially in tier II and III cities. 

Prasar Bharati, in partnership with IIT Kanpur and Saankhya Labs (Tejas Networks), is currently testing D2M technology in over 19 cities in India. This technology could allow the government to broadcast content in areas lacking internet connectivity, focusing on educational programming and emergency broadcasts.

Telecommunications companies have voiced opposition to the D2M initiative, citing potential business losses in video consumption, one of India’s fastest-growing market. However, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has supported D2M technology as a means to expand digital terrestrial broadcasting, allowing it to coexist alongside cable and satellite.

The MIB has strongly advocated for D2M, highlighting that, of the 280 million households in India, only 190 million have a television, leaving the rest “TV Dark.” In contrast, there are approximately 800 million smartphone users and 250 million feature phone users in the country.

“The MIB had initially planned to present the D2M proposal directly to the cabinet but has since chosen to recommend it to the committee of secretaries instead. Notably, no telecom stakeholders are part of this committee. MIB is still not convinced on the D2M proposal and will seek response from the committee for further plan of action,” said a source close to the development.

“D2M technology will allow broadcasters to extend their reach to even the most remote parts of the country. However, it’s crucial to determine how the government plans to implement D2M technology nationwide,” the source added.

Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the MIB, recently discussed the benefits of Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting, which enables content delivery directly to mobile devices. He noted that Prasar Bharati, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and Saankhya Labs, is conducting trials with both high-power and low-power transmitters.

Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of TRAI, highlighted the rapid growth in the Media & Entertainment sector, projected to reach ₹3.08 trillion by 2026, driven by the expansion of new media platforms. Lahoti emphasized that Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting is becoming a viable alternative technology for content delivery, allowing simultaneous broadcasting without requiring internet connectivity.


EXCLUSIVE: MIB refers D2M broadcasting proposal to committee of secretaries

The Information Technology Ministry has come down heavily on social media platforms for allegedly abetting crime by not responding to hoax bomb threats. Over the past several days, more than 120 flights operated by Indian airlines have received bomb threats. As recently as yesterday, 30 flights from IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India were affected in New Delhi.

In a virtual meeting led by Joint Secretary Sanket S Bhondve, representatives from airlines and social media companies, including X and Meta, were questioned about their responses to the spread of false information.

Bhondve pointed out that the platform owned by Elon Musk was "abetting crime" by allowing these threats to spread unchecked.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology urged social media platforms to take proactive measures against hoax bomb threats and emphasized the need for clearer takedown actions. In response to the 80 bomb threats received by Indian airlines in just two days, the government is planning legislative measures to punish the offenders.

The government is also considering amendments to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act (SUASCA), 1982. These amendments would allow arrests and investigations without a court order in cases where an aircraft is still on the ground. Proposed changes to aircraft security rules aim to introduce stricter penalties for individuals issuing bomb threats.

On October 22, Indian airlines faced a surge in bomb threats, with nearly 50 flights affected, bringing the total to around 80 incidents in two days. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo each reported 13 impacted flights, while Akasa Air and Vistara reported over 12 and 11 affected flights, respectively. This follows 30 threats reported on the night of October 21, bringing the total number of bomb threats against Indian flights to over 170 within just over a week.

Airlines have confirmed that they are coordinating with local authorities and following safety protocols. Although the threats have been hoaxes, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has stressed the gravity of the situation.
He assured that the government is addressing the situation while prioritizing passenger safety. He warned that those responsible for spreading hoaxes would face strict consequences, including placement on a no-fly list.

IT Ministry cracks its whip against Meta, X over flight bomb hoax cases

In an advisory issued on September 3, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) urged all intermediaries to promptly and proactively remove fake content, following a Bombay High Court directive. 

The HC required Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and Telegram to delete all false information, including altered videos and profiles related to the National Stock Exchange (NSE), within 10 hours of receiving a complaint.

"The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology wishes to remind intermediaries of their duty to swiftly remove any prohibited material at the earliest opportunity. Intermediaries are advised to complete the takedown process, where necessary, as proactively as possible without waiting for the time limits set in the Rules, which serve only as an upper threshold.”

The advisory referred to the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Under the IT Act, IT Rules 2021, and the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in the Shreya Singhal case, intermediaries are required to take down "unlawful information" within 36 hours of receiving "actual knowledge," either via a court order or a notice from the "Appropriate Government".

In July this year, India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) warned investors about deepfake videos falsely featuring its CEO, Ashishkumar Chauhan, in some investment and stock advisory videos. 

Recently, the Mumbai police filed a case against the Maharashtra Youth Congress’ social media account and 16 others for allegedly sharing a deepfake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Multiple well-known personalities, including Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Elon Musk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Tom Cruise, Scarlett Johansson, and Emma Watson, have also fallen victim to deepfake videos on the internet. Similar such cases have been reported widely across the country.


MEITY