In response to the Subordinate Legislation Committee’s report, the Indian government has clarified the IT Rules regarding intermediaries. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) has explained that the requirement for intermediaries to “act within thirty-six hours” means they must acknowledge complaints within this period and initiate appropriate action as per law, rather than immediately disabling content.
Additionally, grievance officers must resolve complaints within one month. Despite these clarifications, the core issues identified by the committee—such as the need for clearer definitions, increased transparency, and measures to prevent the misuse of the rules—remain unaddressed. The clarification does not alter the tendency of intermediaries to block content preemptively, nor does it adequately protect against frivolous complaints or safeguard free speech.
The government statement:Clarification 79rules(1)