Delhi HC endorses ban on Telegram, stretching 'information' definition under IT Act.
The Union government temporarily blocked Telegram to protect the sanctity of the NEET (UG) re-test, a move endorsed by the Delhi High Court. This ban significantly stretched the meaning of "information" under Section 2(1)(v) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, which traditionally defined information in diminutive units like data or messages. The government argued that an online platform like Telegram is an "aggregation" of these units, effectively replacing "information" with "an entire intermediary platform" in Section 69A's content-blocking provision. The High Court's June 19 order supported this "expansive" interpretation, despite Telegram's argument that only specific content, not entire platforms, should be blocked. The ban disproportionately affected 150 million users, many of whom are students.
Key Points
- The Union government temporarily blocked Telegram to safeguard the NEET (UG) re-test.
- The Delhi High Court endorsed this ban, which expanded the definition of "information" under the IT Act, 2000.
- The government interpreted Telegram as an "aggregation" of information, allowing for the blocking of the entire platform.
- Section 69A of the IT Act, concerning content blocking, was applied to an entire intermediary platform rather than specific pieces of content.
- The ban affected 150 million Telegram users, including many students, raising concerns about proportionality.
Exam Facts
- Act: Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
- Relevant Section: Section 2(1)(v) (definition of information), Section 69A (content blocking).
- Court: Delhi High Court (June 19 order).
- Number of Telegram users affected: 150 million.
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