Aditi Agrawal
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Aditi Agrawal
@aditimuses.bsky.social
840 followers 120 following 250 posts
Technology Journalist l Words in Al Jazeera, The Hindu, Print | ex-Hindustan Times, Newslaundry, Forbes India, MediaNama | Tips at [email protected] / @gmail.com | she/her
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Now:

1. Parts of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 come into force today, others will come into force 12/18 months from today.

2. DPDP Rules notified. Some come into effect today, others 12/18 months from today.

3. Data Protection Board established and will consist of 4 members.
November 14, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Now: ECI’s latest advisory on political parties using AI generated content requires:

1. Parties to label synthetic content with labels occupying 10% of photo area, 10% of audio length, or as a permanent label on top of a video. Echoes MeitY’s proposed amendments to IT Rules.
October 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
New: Telecom Cyber Security Rules have been amended to allow the government to create a mobile number validation (MNV) platform.

Link to notified rules: dot.gov.in/sites/defaul...
dot.gov.in
October 23, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Now: Amendment to Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules 2021 has been notified in the official gazette. It will come into force on November 15.
October 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Now: MeitY has amended Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules 2021 to implement a review mechanism, define the seniority of officers who can send takedown notices, issue reasoned orders. Gazette notification to be uploaded tomorrow. To be brought into effect from November 1.
October 22, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Now: MeitY has proposed amendments to IT Rules 2021 to deal with synthetically generated information (deepfakes) by labelling them or identifying them using metadata. Additional obligations proposed for SSMIs.

Comments invited until November 6.

www.meity.gov.in/static/uploa...
www.meity.gov.in
October 22, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Now: Draft Gaming Rules published for public consultation until October 31.

Link: www.meity.gov.in/static/uploa...
www.meity.gov.in
October 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Now: Twitter is going to appeal The Karnataka High Court judgement on the use of Section 79.3.b to issue blocking orders, on the constitutionality of Rule 3.1.d, and the creation of I4C’s Sahyog portal.
September 29, 2025 at 4:35 AM
New: The DoT has released draft user identification rules for a 30-day public consultation. The rules propose requiring all telecom entities to create a biometric identity verification system, amongst other things.

Read all the details here: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-13...
Edition 13: DoT's draft rules to identify users under the Telecom Act
Key proposals include creation of biometric identity verification system(s) by authorised entities, and sharing access to it with the Centre.
thetechtrace.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:11 AM
New: Detailed interview with IT Secretary S. Krishnan on the fine print of the Online Gaming Bill.

thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-12...
Edition 12: IT Secretary on the fine print of the Online Gaming Bill
IT Secretary S. Krishnan delved into timelines for implementation, use of blocking provisions, who is covered and who is not, and much more.
thetechtrace.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Analysis: Of the Online Gaming Bill. What is covered? What is not? So much power with the Centre!

Link to full article: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-11...
Edition 11: Thoughts on Centre's Online Gaming Bill
The Bill proposes to criminalise the provision, promotion and financing of online money games, essentially banning real money games in the country.
thetechtrace.substack.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:45 AM
New: MeitY met four media bodies to discuss two primary issues in the DPDP Act: removal of exemption for journalistic work, and dilution of the RTI Act.

Link to article with all the details: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-10...
Edition 10: MeitY met media bodies over Digital Personal Data Protection Act
The meeting focussed on two issues with the DPDP Act: removal of exemption for journalistic work, and dilution of the RTI Act.
thetechtrace.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Now: Details of the “blocking order” issued by MIB against 26 websites and 14 apps for obscenity, vulgarity and pornographic content:
July 25, 2025 at 7:51 AM
As I reported in my newsletter on July 6:
July 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
ICYMI: Now that the two Reuters X accounts have been unblocked in India after MeitY’s intervention, read about the unblocking and re-blocking orders passed last week: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-9-...
Edition 9: (Corrected) Two Reuters X accounts remain blocked in India
MeitY officially said that there was 'no requirement from the Government of India to withhold Reuters handle'.
thetechtrace.substack.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:13 AM
New: Karnataka HC has allowed X to challenge part of IT Rules, 2021. Railways ministry sent X a takedown notice on June 26. Digipub's intervention application not admitted but to be heard along with the matter.

+ details of govt’s submissions

Link to full story: open.substack.com/pub/thetecht...
Edition 8: Karnataka HC allows X to challenge part of IT Rules; railways ministry sent X another takedown notice
While solicitor general Tushar Mehta did not object to X's amended application, he objected to the inclusion of Digipub and Abhinandan Sekhri as intervenors in the case.
open.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 8:19 AM
New: Proton is challenging Karnataka HC's April 29 blocking order against Proton Mail on 3 grounds:

1. Proton gave information about one email address to Swiss justice ministry in February 2025 on receiving a validated request.

Link to full story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-7-...
Edition 7: Proton challenges Karnataka HC's blocking order
Proton said that it had already disclosed information about one of the email addresses to the Swiss justice ministry in February 2025.
thetechtrace.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:47 AM
New: Police from TN, MH, WB and Bihar sent X Section 79(3)(b) content takedown notices to get tweets critical or mocking of the respective state governments removed.

Link to full story: www.thenewsminute.com/news/tn-maha...
TN, Maharashtra, Bihar and WB police cite contested law to take down tweets
Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.The Tamil Nadu Police Department has sent X (formerly Twitter) two notices to remove tw
www.thenewsminute.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM
When you break stories but others get cited and credited for copying them days and weeks later
*le sigh*
#StoryOfMyLife
June 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
New: X now wants Karnataka HC to declare Rule 3(1)(d) of IT Rules, 2021 as unconstitutional and ultra vires of the IT Act. It also wants I4C’s Sahyog to be declared ultra vires of the IT Act “and/or” unconstitutional.

Link to the full article: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-6-...
Edition 6: Now X (ex-Twitter) is challenging IT Rules 2021
X, formerly Twitter, wants Karnataka HC to strike down Rule 3(1)(d) as unconstitutional and ultra vires of the IT Act. It also wants I4C's Sahyog to be declared at least ultra vires of the Act.
thetechtrace.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 6:11 AM
New: Digipub and Abhinandan Sekhri filed an intervention application to join X's lawsuit against Indian govt’s use of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act + I4C's Sahyog portal to issue content takedown notices to intermediaries.

Link to full article: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-5-...
Edition 5: Digital News Media Body seeks to join X’s Lawsuit against Centre
Digipub argued that takedown notices issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act through the I4C’s Sahyog portal set up a parallel blocking mechanism devoid of any safeguards, leading to censorship.
thetechtrace.substack.com
June 21, 2025 at 5:49 AM
New: The MIB convened a virtual meeting with major Indian news channels on May 9, telling them to stick to fact-based reporting during the then ongoing Operation Sindoor.

Link to detailed story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-3-...
Edition 4: MIB's virtual meeting with news channels during Operation Sindoor
Information and broadcasting minister told news channels to stick to facts.
thetechtrace.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 2:51 AM
New: The IT parliamentary committee had held a short meeting on fake news on May 7. Meeting was truncated because of developments around Operation Sindoor.

Link to detailed story: thetechtrace.substack.com/p/edition-4-...
Edition 3: IT Parliamentary Committee's Short Meeting on Fake News on May 7
The May 7 meeting was truncated due to developments around Operation Sindoor
thetechtrace.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Now: X accounts of both BBC Urdu and Outlook India have been unblocked in India by MeitY. BBC Urdu was blocked earlier this week and Outlook India earlier today.
May 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Now: Now: Twitter’s Global Affairs account restored in India. MeitY had asked X about its tweet from last night (8,000 accounts, etc.), as per a person aware of the matter. X blocked it in India without an order. Now MeitY has issued an order to X to NOT block it, as per this person.
May 9, 2025 at 5:54 AM