692 Blocking Directions Related To Online Betting, Gambling, Gaming Websites: IT Ministry
New Delhi: The IT ministry has issued 692 blocking directions related to online betting, online gambling and online gaming websites under the IT Act between the year 2022- 24, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada told the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Ministry said that in order to address various socio-economic concerns posed by online harms, criminalities and threats to national security, after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, it has announced the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”) in exercise of the powers given under the IT Act.
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The IT Rules, 2021 assigns specific carefulness and responsibility from intermediaries, Minister stated.
“The IT Rules, 2021 cast specific due diligence obligations on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, with respect to the information that is not to be hosted, displayed, uploaded, published, transmitted, stored or shared on the platforms. Intermediaries are required not to host, store or publish any information violative of any law for the time being in force. Intermediaries are required to ensure their accountability that includes their expeditious action towards removal of the unlawful information categorised under the IT Rules, 2021 or on the basis of grievances received against any information that, among other things, is harmful to child or that is relating or encouraging money laundering or gambling,” the Minister has said.
Additionally, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory concerning online gaming, and fantasy sports to all private satellite television channels on December 4, 2020. As per the advisory, all private satellite television channels are advised to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and make sure not to promote any activity which is prohibited on the grounds of law.
Furthermore, Ministry has issued advisories on dates, 13.06.2022, 03.10.2022, 06.04.2023, 25.08.2023 and 21.04.2024 to print, electronic, digital media, endorsers and influencers, social media intermediaries and online advertisement intermediaries abstain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms which are misleading, and do not appear to be conform with certain acts. The acts such as the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Advertisement Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995 and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India are taken into consideration.
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Aside from this, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to furnish a framework and eco-system for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to deal with cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The Ministry has also launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) to allow the public to report all types of cybercrimes.
As per the provisions of law, cybercrime incidents reported on this portal are directed to the respective State/UT law enforcement agency for further handling, Minister said. The portal has diverse mechanisms for registering complaints against women/child related crimes and financial frauds. A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalised to get assistance in submitting online cyber complaints.
