The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has extended the deadline for giving feedback on the draft online gaming rules to 25th January, 2023. Public feedback had been requested last by January 17, 2023. Meanwhile, one more clause has also been added to the proposed amendments on fact-checking of fake news of intermediaries by PIB as per a notice issued by the ministry today.
MeitY has also taken into account changes to rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the aforementioned rules regarding the intermediary’s need to exercise due diligence. The general public has been encouraged to comment on these proposed revisions. Submissions won’t be linked to specific people publicly and will be handled in a fiduciary capacity to allow the people making them to freely express their opinions.
As per the revised draft, the phrase “social media intermediary and significant social media intermediary” shall be changed to the phrase “social media intermediary, significant social media intermediary, and online gaming intermediary.” MeitY, on its official website, made the announcement about the same and also introduced various other amendments.
Earlier, on January 2, 2023, the MeitY had released proposed amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 regarding online gaming, on its website.
MeitY recently wrapped up its consultation with parents, kids, and teachers over the proposed online gaming regulations. It held a meeting with gaming industry businesses and organisations on January 17 at 11:30 a.m. in Juniper Hall of the Indian Habitat Centre (New Delhi) to talk about the draft amendments, similar to the consultation they previously held with gamers and esports competitors.
In the meeting, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for MeitY, confirmed that the ministry is developing a single integrated view on skill games that will permeate all ministries and across states, during a meeting with senior executives and founders from gaming companies.