India responds to the United Nations on new IT rules

Stating that new IT rules are “designed to empower ordinary users of social media”, India on Sunday rejected apprehensions raised by the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and said that new rules were finalised after broad consultations with various stakeholders.

The Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations in its reply to the communication of the Special Procedures Branch of the United Nation Human Rights Council said India’s democratic credentials are well recognised, according to an official statement issued by the IT ministry on Sunday. India termed “misplaced, exaggerated, and disingenuous” concerns over the country’s new Information and Technology (IT) Rules raised in a recent report by a special branch of the United Nation’s Human Rights Council. It pointed to the country’s democratic credentials, saying free speech was guaranteed under the Constitution and reinforced by an independent judiciary and a robust media. The special branch of UNHRC on June 11 had raised concern around number of provisions of the new IT rules alleging that they do not appear to meet the requirement of international law and standards related to the rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and expression as protected by International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, acceded to by India on April 10, 1979.