UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why ‘digital vigilantism’ is not the problem

Q1. Digital vigilantism is often traced to the perceived failure of formal workplace redressal mechanisms. Under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, an employer is statutorily required to constitute an Internal Committee only if the establishment employs at least how many persons?

  • A. 5
  • B. 10
  • C. 20
  • D. 50

Q2. The statutory framework on intermediary liability that governs the online amplification underlying 'digital vigilantism' rests on the Information Technology Act, 2000. Which Union ministry administers this Act?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • D. Ministry of Communications

Q3. The defamation suit in which 'digital vigilantism' was judicially discussed engages India's reformed criminal law on defamation. Consider the following statements about the current legal position: 1. Defamation is placed in Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 3. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024. 4. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 defamation is a purely civil wrong carrying no criminal liability. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Defamation is placed in Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
  2. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
  3. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024.
  4. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 defamation is a purely civil wrong carrying no criminal liability.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q4. In such a defamation suit, the accused's right to reputation is protected through defamation being a permissible restriction on free speech. How many grounds of reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression are enumerated in Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India?

  • A. Six
  • B. Seven
  • C. Eight
  • D. Nine

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the criminal law on defamation under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: 1. Defamation was Section 499 under the IPC, 1860 and is now placed in Section 356 under the BNS, 2023. 2. The BNS, 2023 introduced community service as a new mode of punishment for defamation, which was not available under the IPC. 3. The BNS, 2023 retained the same section number, 499, as the IPC for the offence of defamation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Defamation was Section 499 under the IPC, 1860 and is now placed in Section 356 under the BNS, 2023.
  2. The BNS, 2023 introduced community service as a new mode of punishment for defamation, which was not available under the IPC.
  3. The BNS, 2023 retained the same section number, 499, as the IPC for the offence of defamation.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Among United Nations bodies that have served as a prominent institutional voice on the #MeToo movement, which one is the entity dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the empowerment of women?

  • A. UNICEF
  • B. UN Women
  • C. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  • D. Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Q7. Consider the following statements about the origins of the #MeToo movement: 1. Activist Tarana Burke first used the phrase 'me too' in 2006 through her non-profit Just Be Inc. 2. The movement gained global prominence in 2017 following reports about film producer Harvey Weinstein. 3. Actress Alyssa Milano's viral 'me too' tweet was posted on 15 October 2017. 4. Tarana Burke first coined the phrase 'me too' during the 2017 Weinstein revelations. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Activist Tarana Burke first used the phrase 'me too' in 2006 through her non-profit Just Be Inc.
  2. The movement gained global prominence in 2017 following reports about film producer Harvey Weinstein.
  3. Actress Alyssa Milano's viral 'me too' tweet was posted on 15 October 2017.
  4. Tarana Burke first coined the phrase 'me too' during the 2017 Weinstein revelations.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q8. Digital vigilantism is frequently framed as a response to the perceived inadequacy of formal redressal for workplace sexual harassment. The statutory mechanism mandating an Internal Committee for such complaints was established under which Act?

  • A. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 1997
  • B. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2005
  • C. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
  • D. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2015

Q9. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, and launched the SHe-Box single-window online complaint portal?

  • A. Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • B. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • C. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the intermediary due-diligence regime with its predecessor: 1. The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 replaced the earlier Intermediary Guidelines Rules of 2011. 2. The 2021 Rules require an intermediary to remove content within 36 hours of a court order or government direction. 3. The 2021 Rules require an intermediary to retain records of removed or blocked content for 30 days. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 replaced the earlier Intermediary Guidelines Rules of 2011.
  2. The 2021 Rules require an intermediary to remove content within 36 hours of a court order or government direction.
  3. The 2021 Rules require an intermediary to retain records of removed or blocked content for 30 days.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. A Significant Social Media Intermediary under the IT Rules, 2021 must appoint certain officers, all resident in India. Consider the following: 1. Chief Compliance Officer 2. Nodal Contact Person 3. Resident Grievance Officer 4. Data Protection Officer Which of the above is/are correctly identified as an officer that a Significant Social Media Intermediary is required to appoint?

  1. Chief Compliance Officer
  2. Nodal Contact Person
  3. Resident Grievance Officer
  4. Data Protection Officer
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4