Government Issues 1,298 Blocking Directives on Online Gaming and Betting
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Synopsis
In an effort to tackle the risks associated with online gaming and addiction, the government has issued a total of 1,298 blocking orders concerning online betting and gambling platforms from 2022 to 2024. The initiative aims to promote a secure and trustworthy online environment.
Key Takeaways
- 1,298 blocking orders issued for online gaming sites.
- Focus on mitigating addiction and other risks.
- New amendments to IT Rules, 2021 introduced.
- Intermediaries must remove unlawful content promptly.
- Blocking orders can be issued for various security reasons.
New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) To mitigate the risks associated with online gaming and the potential for addiction, the government has implemented 1,298 blocking directives concerning online betting, gambling, and gaming websites, including mobile applications, from 2022 to 2024.
As stated by Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister of Railways and Electronics and IT, the government’s initiatives are focused on ensuring an open, safe, trusted, and accountable Internet for all users.
In pursuit of this goal, the government, following extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, has introduced amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to tackle various socio-economic issues arising from online games.
The IT Rules, 2021 impose specific responsibilities on online gaming intermediaries, including other platforms and social media intermediaries regarding online games.
These intermediaries are mandated not to host, store, or publish any content that violates existing laws, as informed by the minister in the Lok Sabha.
The minister highlighted that these entities must ensure accountability, which includes promptly addressing the removal of unlawful content defined under the IT Rules, 2021 or based on complaints regarding content that could be harmful to children or that relates to or promotes money laundering or gambling.
Additionally, the IT Act contains provisions for issuing blocking orders to intermediaries to restrict access to certain information or links that could jeopardize the sovereignty and integrity, defense of India, state security, friendly relations with foreign nations, or public order, or incite cognizable offenses, following the procedures outlined in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, also gathers and publishes statistical information on crimes in its report “Crime in India”.
