{"id":14344,"date":"2026-01-12T10:36:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T10:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=14344"},"modified":"2026-01-12T10:42:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T10:42:11","slug":"intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Intermediary Liability Under IT Act: Meaning of Reasonable Efforts and Safe Harbour Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In today\u2019s modern day and age, the rate at which products and brands can be infringed upon has increased significantly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To address the modern legal challenges arising from the same, the law has been evolving to safeguard businesses against commercial losses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"relevant-laws\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Relevant_Laws\"><\/span>Relevant Laws<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The term \u201cIntermediary\u201d has been defined under Section 2(1)(w) of the IT Act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Section 79 of the IT Act &#8211; intermediaries are required to conduct due diligence and observe the guidelines as prescribed by the Central Government.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intermediary Guidelines (Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (\u201cIT Rules\u201d) vide Rule 3(1)(b) &#8211; the intermediaries have been mandated to intimate their users about their rules and regulations, privacy policy and user agreement and make reasonable efforts to cause their user to not host, display, upload etc. information which is inconsistent with the law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary-of-statutory-provisions\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_of_Statutory_Provisions\"><\/span>Summary of Statutory Provisions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Provision<\/th><th>Key Requirement<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Section 2(1)(w), IT Act<\/td><td>Defines the term \u201cIntermediary\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Section 79, IT Act<\/td><td>Mandates due diligence and compliance with government guidelines<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rule 3(1)(b), IT Rules, 2021<\/td><td>Requires user intimation and reasonable efforts to prevent unlawful content<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"judicial-precedents\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Judicial_Precedents\"><\/span>Judicial Precedents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Hon\u2019ble Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India<sup>1<\/sup> interpreted the IT Act and the erstwhile IT Rules to hold that, intermediaries are required to act on third-party information upon receiving court orders. While the Hon\u2019ble Delhi High Court in Super Cassettes Industries Ltd. v. MySpace Inc. &amp; Another<sup>2<\/sup> emphasised the precarious situation of an intermediary to pre-screen volumes of third-party information and ascertain the infringing contents. In the judicial precedents prior to the cases of Kunal Kamra vs. UOI<sup>3<\/sup> and Starbucks Corporation v. NIXI<sup>4<\/sup> (as discussed below), the immunity of the intermediaries hinged on the fact whether, the intermediaries had \u201cactual knowledge\u201d of the infringing content and acted upon the same. However, post the amendment of the IT Rules, the immunity is hinged on whether, the intermediaries have undertaken \u201creasonable efforts\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The term \u201creasonable efforts\u201d have neither been defined in the statute nor explained in the judicial precedents even though, the precedents have made references to the said term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"case-law-references\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Law_References\"><\/span>Case Law References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, AIR 2015 SC 1523.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Relevant_Laws\" >Relevant Laws<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Summary_of_Statutory_Provisions\" >Summary of Statutory Provisions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Judicial_Precedents\" >Judicial Precedents<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Case_Law_References\" >Case Law References<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Judicial_Interpretation_of_%E2%80%9CReasonable_Efforts%E2%80%9D\" >Judicial Interpretation of \u201cReasonable Efforts\u201d<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/intermediary-liability-it-act-reasonable-efforts\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>2<\/sup> Super Cassettes Industries Ltd. v. MySpace Inc. &amp; Another CS (OS) 2682\/2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>3<\/sup> Kunal Kamra v. Union of India, Writ Petition (L) No. 9792 of 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>4<\/sup> Starbucks Corporation &amp; Anr. v. National Internet Exchange of India &amp; Ors, CS (COMM) 224\/2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"judicial-interpretation-of-reasonable-efforts\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Judicial_Interpretation_of_%E2%80%9CReasonable_Efforts%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Judicial Interpretation of \u201cReasonable Efforts\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Hon\u2019ble Bombay High Court\u2019s case of Kunal Kamra<sup>5<\/sup> the court observed that, \u201cmaking reasonable effort saves an intermediary from losing safe harbour\u201d and \u201cthe option of a \u2018disclaimer\u2019 to that of a \u2018take down\u2019 falls within the meaning of reasonable effort as contemplated in the Rule\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, in the Hon\u2019ble Delhi High Court\u2019s case of Starbucks<sup>6<\/sup>, the court held that the expression \u201creasonable efforts\u201d used in Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, 2021 is vague and asked the Central Government to provide clarity so intermediaries could effectively regulate their platform. However, the said case is still pending adjudication before the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since, the term \u201creasonable efforts\u201d has not been accorded with a definition, the compliance requirements for intermediaries are uncertain. As per the erstwhile IT Rules, the intermediaries are required to meet the due diligence requirements such as, sharing the terms and conditions, disclaimers, grievance redressal IDs thus, the legislative intent to add \u201creasonable efforts\u201d in amended IT Rules shall mean additional measures over and above the already outlined due diligence requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, intermediaries\u2019 measures to pre-screen content to ascertain infringement have also been met with critic as, such pre-screening measures could curtail the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and can essentially mean that, the intermediaries have been delegated with the power to decide on whether a content is infringing or not, which rest with the judiciary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Relevant Laws Summary of Statutory Provisions ProvisionKey RequirementSection 2(1)(w), IT ActDefines the term \u201cIntermediary\u201dSection 79, IT ActMandates due diligence and compliance with government guidelinesRule 3(1)(b), IT Rules, 2021Requires user intimation and reasonable efforts to prevent unlawful content Judicial Precedents Case Law References In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, AIR 2015 SC 1523. 2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1003,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[3343,28],"class_list":["post-14344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-technology-laws","tag-technology-laws","tag-top-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6.1 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Intermediary Liability Under IT Act: Meaning of Reasonable Efforts and Safe Harbour Protection - Legal Service India - 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