MP moves motion toremove objectionable content from websites

NEW DELHI: A motion was moved in the Rajya Sabha by an opposition member for removing objectionable content from Indian websites and for annulment of government rules aimed at regulating Internet content.

The motion was moved by Marxist member P Rajeeve who demanded that the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules 2011 are ultra vires of the provisions of the parent IT Act and violate the freedom of speech and expression.

He said the rules should be done away with and noted that Parliament had powers to intervene in matters of subordinate legislations like this and asked the government to bring the required amendments instead of bringing such rules.

Rajeeve was supported by several members, including Bharatiya Janata Party?s Arun Jaitley who said it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to defy technology and said the days of withholding information have gone.

Congress member E M S Natchiappan pointed out that the House Committee on Subordinate Legislations could look into such matters.

The IT Rules of 2011 stipulate that websites "cannot host information that is a grossly harmful, harassing, blasphemous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, libellous, invasive of privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically objectionable, disparaging, relating or encouraging money laundering or gambling, or otherwise unlawful in any manner whatever, harm minors or infringes any patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary right."