The Dialogue recently launched the second volume of our primary study conducted in collaboration with Internet and Mobile Association of India on the IT Rules, 2021: A Regulatory Impact Assessment Study with inputs to boost the creative economy. The report analyses the impact of Part III of the IT Rules, 2021 on publishers of Online Curated Content. The researchers have also studied the major pain points of the creative industry and have proposed recommendations to promote Ease of Doing Business and freedom of expression of online content creators.

With inputs from 103 stakeholders across two volumes, this year-long study entails evidence based recommendations to aid in constructive policymaking in the background of the upcoming Digital India Act.

The major findings of this second volume of the research includes:
• Ensuring well defined targeted principle based regulation that protects online free speech, by addressing definitional ambiguities in the Rules
• Ensuring independence of Self-Regulatory Bodies with industry and community representation
• Addressing the principle level concerns under Part III o the IT Rules, 2021 and institutionalising it as a singular grievance redressal mechanism for Publishers of Online Curated Content;
• Decriminalising creative wrongdoings and making financial penalty as the norm in such cases to boost creative economy and artistic freedom.