‘Wolf in watchdog’s clothing’: India’s new digital media laws spark fears for freedoms

…. The series of sweeping new IT rules bring almost everything that happens online under a mechanism of government regulation, including giving the government powers to remove “objectionable” online content and erasing people’s right to privacy on social media and encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp.

The move has provoked a huge backlash among the world of tech and media and a legal challenge against the rules was raised in Delhi high court this week by several online publishers….

“Providers are being pressed to take down content the Indian government deems illegal or a threat to India’s security – categories that now seem to include criticising the Modi government,” she said….

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/11/wolf-in-watchdogs-clothing-indias-new-digital-media-laws-spark-censorship-fears