PRADEEP RANA | NEW DELHI Falling in line with the new Government rules, as many as 1800 digital news platforms and 40 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms have submitted their company information with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethic Code) Rules notified by the Government on 25 February require the online curated content OTT platforms and digital news publishers to follow self regulation and appoint a grievance officer for redressal of complaints from the aggrieved parties. "More than 40 OTT platforms and 1800 digital news publishers have also given requisite information to the Ministry under the rules. The Ministry has also carried out outreach and webinars with the publishers for effective implementation of the rules," Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said in a reply submitted to Lok Sabha. "The ministry has received communication from several associations and representatives of digital news publishers and OTT platforms regarding constitution of self-regulating bodies under the rules," the Minister said. Amid growing concerns around lack of transparency, accountability and rights of users related to digital media and after elaborate consultation with the public and stakeholders, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 were framed by the Government in exercise of powers under section 87 (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules of 2011. While finalizing these Rules, both the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting undertook elaborate consultations among themselves in order to have a harmonious, "soft-touch" oversight mechanism in relation to social media platform as well as digital media and OTT platforms. A part of these rules shall be administered by Ministry of Electronics and IT, while the other part relating to Code of Ethics and procedure and safeguards in relation to digital media shall be administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As per Government, its Digital India programme has now become a movement which is empowering common Indians with the power of technology. The extensive spread of mobile phones, Internet etc. has also enabled many social media platforms to expand their footprints in India. Common people are also using these platforms in a very significant way. As per estimates, there 530 million WhatsApp users, followed by YouTube users (448 million), Facebook users (410 million), Instagram users (210 million) and Twitter users ( 17.5 million).