UPSC Articles
Law in news: Information Technology Act, 2000
Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III – Information technology, Sci & tech
In news
- The Centre has issued notice to Twitter after the site restored more than 250 accounts that had been suspended earlier on the government’s ‘legal demand’.
Important value additions
- In India, the Information Technology Act, 2000, as amended from time to time, governs all activities related to the use of computer resources.
- It covers all ‘intermediaries’ who play a role in the use of computer resources and electronic records.
- The term ‘intermediaries’ includes: Providers of telecom service, network service, Internet service, and web hosting, search engines, online payment and auction sites, online marketplaces, and cyber cafes.
- It also includes any person who, on behalf of another, “receives, stores or transmits” any electronic record including Social media platforms as well.
Centre’s powers vis-à-vis intermediaries:
- Section 69 of the Act confers on the Central and State governments the power to issue directions “to intercept, monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource.
- The grounds on which these powers may be exercised are: in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defense of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offense relating to these, or for investigating any offense.
- Section 69A also enables the Centre to ask any agency of the government, or any intermediary, to block access to the public of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored, or hosted on any computer resource.
- Procedures and safeguards have been incorporated in the rules framed for the purpose.
