New IT Rules, 2021 in India Privacy vs Public Safety

The article talks about the new IT rules [Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) rules 2021], notified by the government in February 2021. The rules have been framed in exercise of powers under section 87 of IT Act 2000 and similar provisions which were there before under Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011 stand replaced. The article has talked about the two major concepts of ‘Privacy’ and ‘Public Safety’ which are the elements of the controversy brought up by the new IT rules. The author has mentioned the salient features of new IT rules in brief. Further, it talks about the controversy and problems arising from such rules. It also includes the reasons for the need of such rules and government control. The author concluded by specifying few of the observations made by the courts by mentioning some of the earlier cases and giving some suggestions in that regard as well.