The Bombay High Court is set to announce its decision today on petitions from stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and the Editors Guild of India, challenging the 2023 IT Amendment Rules. These rules empower the government to form a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to monitor online content related to the government. The decision comes after the Supreme Court paused an earlier notification of the unit due to concerns about freedom of expression.
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- The verdict will address pleas challenging the IT Amendment Rules 2023.
- Rules empower Centre to form a Fact Check Unit (FCU) under IT Rules 2021.
- FCU aimed at monitoring online content related to the government.
- FCU would flag posts with fake or misleading facts about government business.
- Social media intermediaries can take flagged posts down or add a disclaimer.
- Petitioners fear censorship, loss of free expression on social media.
- Kamra says FCU endangers political satire, violating his right to work.
- Government claims rules target fake news, protect public interest.
- Supreme Court previously paused Centre’s notification due to free speech concerns.
- Final verdict will address concerns of censorship vs. public interest.
