Technology, Media and Telecom

In a milestone initiative to advance the digital infrastructure in the country, and with a view to increase the transparency of digital-based government functions, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ("MeitY") of the Government of India launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack. ......

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ("BNS"), the legislation that replaced the existing Indian Penal Code, 1860 ("IPC") was brought into effect on July 1, 2024. BNS while introducing various new offences also reformulates certain older provisions and introduces new nomenclature for some offences. . . . ...

In a recent judgment delivered on May 31, 2024 , the Delhi High Court ("Court") dismissed 2 (two) suits filed by an individual seeking compensation/damages for loss of his reputation, against the newspaper Hindustan Times and its publisher, editor and correspondent (hereinafter together referred to as the "Defendants"). ......

On May 7, 2024, the Hon'ble Supreme Court passed an order in the case of Indian Medical Association & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. requiring submission of self-declarations by advertisers/advertising agencies before the publication or broadcast of any advertisement ("Order"), for consumers to be able to make informed decisions about the quality of products that are offered to them for sale. ......

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently released a robust and intricate framework for the establishment and functioning of self-regulatory organisations (SROs) in the fintech sector (SRO-FT), aimed at fostering a balanced environment that promotes innovation while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. ......

The Reserve Bank of India ("RBI") has reportedly been planning to initiate the establishment of a Digital India Trust Agency ("Agency"), in order to curb financial frauds and cybercrimes which have been uprising in the digital lending space. This Agency is intended to be involved in creating a systematic procedure of verifying legitimate digital lending application and resolving the concerns surrounding unauthorised digital lending apps. ......

In today's media-saturated environment, consumers are increasingly susceptible to external influences disseminated through the media, with celebrities often leading the charge in shaping consumer behavior. Whether through social media platforms, traditional advertising channels, or product endorsements, the impact of celebrity-focused advertising extends beyond mere entertainment and impacts consumer decisions. ......

In April 2024, the Reserve Bank of India ("RBI") issued the Draft Circular for the Regulation of Payment Aggregators ("Draft Circular"), in keeping with their pivotal role in the ever-evolving financial services industry. The Draft Circular is slated to update the extant Guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways, as issued by the RBI on March 31, 2021 ("Guidelines"). ......

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ("FSSAI") is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 ("FSS Act"). It operates under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI is responsible for regulating and supervising the safety and standards of food products to ensure their quality and hygiene. ......