UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why are social media takedowns in focus?

Q1. A State law restricting online speech is challenged as violating Article 19(1)(a). Consider the following grounds: Which of the grounds given above are expressly listed in Article 19(2) as bases for reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression?

  1. Public order
  2. Friendly relations with foreign States
  3. Interests of the general public
  4. Incitement to an offence
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, 2000 but upheld the blocking power under Section 69A.
  2. Section 69A confines blocking to grounds that track Article 19(2) and carries procedural safeguards such as reasons recorded in writing, whereas Section 66A used open-ended expressions not tied to those grounds.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Suppose the window within which intermediaries must act on takedown demands is sharply shortened, and failure to comply still costs them their statutory immunity for third-party content. Consider the following consequences: Which of the consequences given above is/are most likely?

  1. Platforms will tend to keep borderline content online until a full human review has been completed.
  2. Platforms will rely more heavily on automated filtering to meet the deadline.
  3. Lawful content such as satire or news reporting becomes more likely to be removed along with unlawful content.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. With reference to the Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. They are self-regulatory bodies set up by each significant social media intermediary to review its own moderation decisions.
  2. A user dissatisfied with the decision of an intermediary's Grievance Officer on their complaint can appeal to a GAC.
  3. A user must exhaust the GAC appeal before a High Court can entertain a challenge to the platform's decision.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. With reference to rules framed by the Union Government under the Information Technology Act, 2000, such as the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A court may strike down such a rule for exceeding the rule-making power conferred by the Act, even where the Act itself is constitutionally valid.
  2. A general rule-making power in the Act allows such rules to add a ground for restricting speech that is not found in Article 19(2).
  3. Once such rules have been laid before Parliament, courts can no longer examine their validity.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only