#FactCheck: Viral image shows the Maldives mocking India with a "SURRENDER" sign on photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Introduction

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced that rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act are expected to be released by the end of January. The rules will be subject to a month-long consultation process, but their notification may be delayed until after the general elections in April-May 2024. Chandrasekhar mentioned changes to the current IT regulations would be made in the next few days to address the problem of deepfakes on social networking sites.

The government has observed a varied response from platforms regarding advisory measures on deepfakes, leading to the decision to enforce more specific rules. During the Digital India Dialogue, platforms were made aware of existing provisions and the consequences of non-compliance. An advisory was issued, and new amended IT rules will be released if satisfaction with compliance is not achieved.

When Sachin Tendulkar reported a deepfake on a site where he was seen endorsing a gaming application, it raised concerns about the exploitation of deepfakes. Tendulkar urged the reporting of such incidents and underlined the need for social media companies to be watchful, receptive to grievances, and quick to address disinformation and deepfakes.

The DPDP Act, 2023

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) 2023 is a brand-new framework for digital personal data protection that aims to protect individuals' digital personal data. The act ensures compliance by the platforms collecting personal data. The act aims to provide consent-based data collection techniques. DPDP Act 2023 is an important step toward protecting individual privacy. The Act, which requires express consent for the acquisition, administration, and processing of personal data, seeks to guarantee that organisations follow the stated objective for which user consent was granted. This proactive strategy coincides with global data protection trends and demonstrates India's commitment to safeguarding user information in the digital era.

Amendments to IT rules

Minister Chandrasekhar declared that existing IT regulations would be amended in order to combat the rising problem of deepfakes and disinformation on social media platforms. These adjustments, which will be published over the next few days, are primarily aimed at countering widespread of false information and deepfake. The decision follows a range of responses from platforms to deepfake recommendations made during Digital India Dialogues.

The government's stance: blocking non-compliant platforms

Minister Chandrasekhar reaffirmed the government's commitment to enforcing the updated guidelines. If platforms fail to follow compliance, the government may consider banning them. This severe position demonstrates the government's commitment to safeguarding Indian residents from the possible harm caused by false information.

Empowering Users with Education and Awareness

In addition to the upcoming DPDP Act Rules/recommendations and IT regulation changes, the government recognises the critical role that user education plays in establishing a robust digital environment. Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasised the necessity for comprehensive awareness programs to educate individuals about their digital rights and the need to protect personal information.

These instructional programs seek to equip users to make informed decisions about giving consent to their data. By developing a culture of digital literacy, the government hopes to guarantee that citizens have the information to safeguard themselves in an increasingly linked digital environment.

Balancing Innovation with User Protection

As India continues to explore its digital frontier, the junction of technology innovation and user safety remains a difficult balance. The upcoming Rules on the DPDP Act and modifications to existing IT rules represent the government's proactive efforts to build a strong framework that supports innovation while protecting user privacy and combating disinformation. Recognising the changing nature of the digital world, the government is actively participating in continuing discussions with stakeholders such as industry professionals, academia, and civil society. These conversations promote a collaborative approach to policy creation, ensuring that legislation is adaptable to the changing nature of cyber risks and technology breakthroughs. Such inclusive talks demonstrate the government's dedication to transparent and participatory governance, in which many viewpoints contribute to the creation of effective and nuanced policy. These advances reflect an important milestone in India's digital journey, as the country prepares to set a good example by creating responsible and safe digital ecosystems for its residents.

Reference : 

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/govt-may-release-personal-data-bill-rules-in-a-fortnight/articleshow/106162669.cms?from=mdr
• https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/dpdp-rules-expected-to-be-released-by-end-of-the-month-mos-chandrasekhar-124011600679_1.html 

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Introduction

Recently the Indian Government banned the import of Laptops and tablets in India under the computers of HSN 8471. According to the notification of the government, Directorate General of foreign trade, there will be restrictions on the import of Laptops, tablets, and other electronic items from 1^st November 2023. The government advised the Domestic companies to apply for the license within three months. As the process is simple, and many local companies have already applied for the license. The government will require a valid license for the import of laptops and other electronic items.

The Government imposed restrictions on the Import of Laptops & other electronic products

The DGFT (The directorate General of foreign trade) imposed restrictions on the import of electronic items in India. And, there has been the final date has also been given that the companies only have 3 months to apply for a valid license, from November 1^st 2023there will be a requirement for a valid license for the import, and there will be a proper ban on the import of laptops & tablets, and other electronic items. The ban is on the HSN-8471. These are the products that indicate that they are taxable. It is a classification code to identify the taxable items. India has sufficient capacity and capability to manufacture their own IT hardware devices and boost production.

The government has notified production linked incentive, PLI Scheme 2.0, for the IT devices, which will soon be disclosed, and the scheme is expected to lead to a total of 29 thousand crore rupees worth of IT hardware nearly. And this will create future job opportunities in the five to six years.

The pros & cons of the import

Banning import has two sides. The positive one is that, it will promote the domestic manufacturers, local companies will able to grow, and there will be job opportunities, but if we talk about the negative side of the import, then the prices will be high for the consumers. One aspect is making India’s digital infrastructure stable, and the other side is affecting consumers.

Reasons Behind the ban on the Import of electronic items

There are the following reasons behind the ban on the Import of laptops and tablets,

• The primary reason why the government banned the import of laptops and other electronic items is because of security concerns about the data. And to prevent data theft a step has been taken by the Government.
• The banning will help the domestic manufacturer to grow and will provide opportunities to the local companies in India.
• It will help in the creation of Job vacancies in the country.
• There will be a curb down of selling of Chinese products.

The government will promote the digital infrastructure of India by putting a ban on imports. Such as there are domestic companies like Reliance recently launched a laptop by the name of Jio Book, and there is a company that sells the cheapest tablet called Aakash, so the import ban will promote these types of electronic items of the local companies. This step will soon result in digital advancement in India.

Conclusion

The laptop, tablets, and other electronic products that have been banned in India will make a substantial move with the implications. The objective of the ban is to encourage domestic manufacturing and to secure the data, however, it will also affect the consumers which can not be ignored. The other future effects are yet to be seen. But the one scenario is clear, that the policy will significantly make a change in India’s Technology industry.

Introduction 

In today's digital age, we consume a lot of information and content on social media apps, and it has become a daily part of our lives. Additionally, the algorithm of these apps is such that once you like a particular category of content or show interest in it, the algorithm starts showing you a lot of similar content. With this, the hype around becoming a content creator has also increased, and people have started making short reel videos and sharing a lot of information. There are influencers in every field, whether it's lifestyle, fitness, education, entertainment, vlogging, and now even legal advice.

The online content, reels, and viral videos by social media influencers giving legal advice can have far-reaching consequences. ‘LAW’ is a vast subject where even a single punctuation mark holds significant meaning. If it is misinterpreted or only partially explained in social media reels and short videos, it can lead to serious consequences. Laws apply based on the facts and circumstances of each case, and they can differ depending on the nature of the case or offence. This trend of ‘swipe for legal advice’ or ‘law in 30 seconds’, along with the rise of the increasing number of legal influencers, poses a serious problem in the online information landscape. It raises questions about the credibility and accuracy of such legal advice, as misinformation can mislead the masses, fuel legal confusion, and create risks.

Bar Council of India’s stance against legal misinformation on social media platforms 

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Monday (March 17, 2025) expressed concern over the rise of self-styled legal influencers on social media, stating that many without proper credentials spread misinformation on critical legal issues. Additionally, “Incorrect or misleading interpretations of landmark judgments like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Right to Privacy ruling in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, and GST regulations have resulted in widespread confusion, misguided legal decisions, and undue judicial burden,” the body said. The BCI also ordered the mandatory cessation of misleading and unauthorised legal advice dissemination by non-enrolled individuals and called for the establishment of stringent vetting mechanisms for legal content on digital platforms. The BCI emphasised the need for swift removal of misleading legal information.

Conclusion

Legal misinformation on social media is a growing issue that not only disrupts public perception but also influences real-life decisions. The internet is turning complex legal discourse into a chaotic game of whispers, with influencers sometimes misquoting laws and self-proclaimed "legal experts" offering advice that wouldn't survive in a courtroom. The solution is not censorship, but counterbalance. Verified legal voices need to step up, fact-checking must be relentless, and digital literacy must evolve to keep up with the fast-moving world of misinformation. Otherwise, "legal truth" could be determined by whoever has the best engagement rate, rather than by legislation or precedent.

References:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bci-warns-against-legal-misinformation-bans-influencer-promotions/article69340049.ece

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