government mandated censorship
Authorities from Brazil to Indonesia have in recent years introduced so-called fake news laws aimed at curbing misinformation, requiring social media platforms to immediately remove content and suspend accounts if ordered to. Yes, users are even arrested in some countries including India.
Human rights groups have warned that these laws could silence dissent.
Krishna, who received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2016 for his efforts to break the artistic hierarchy of Carnatic music, said in his petition that the opacity of IT rules would “chill the creative process”.
“The rules will prevent artists from asking tough questions… and dissidents from questioning existing cultural norms,” he added.
Their petition states, “In the absence of clarity, the publishers will not only stifle speech that is illegitimate, but also stifle perfectly acceptable speech that seeks to transgress the boundaries of social, religious and cultural structures.” ”
Kamra, who often takes a jibe at Modi in his stand-up routines, said in his petition that the IT rules make the federal government “the sole arbiter of truth … and social media intermediaries are empowered to enforce that version of truth”. force” on users, it is similar to government-mandated censorship.