Bombay High Court Stays OTT Code Of Ethics Under The New IT Rules

In a significant development in the implementation of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 ("IT Rules"), the High Court of Bombay ("Court") on August 14, 2021, issued an interim stay on the operation of Rules 9(1) and 9(3). A copy of the Court's order passed in Agij Promotion of Nineteenonea Media Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Union of India and Nikhil Mangesg Wagle Vs. Union of India, can be accessed here.

As background, the IT Rules were notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ("MEITY") under the Information Technology Act, 2000 ("IT Act"). Our materials on the IT Rules can be accessed here.

Compliances under the IT Rules apply primarily to two types of entities; online 'intermediaries' (including social media intermediaries), and publishers of news and current affairs content and publishers of online curated content (collectively "publishers").