The Hindu Editorial (Safe harbour at risk) – Mar 13, 2023

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The Hindu Editorial (Safe harbour at risk) – Mar 13, 2023:

safe harbour (noun) – a place of safety; something that provides safety/protection; a regulatory provision that provides protection/safety. (The Indian government is reconsidering a key aspect of cyberspace — ‘safe harbour’, which is the principle that so-called ‘intermediaries’ on the internet are not responsible for what third parties post on their website. This is the principle that allows social media platforms to avoid liability for posts made by users).
at risk (phrase) – in a situation where you may be harmed/damaged; in danger, in jeopardy, peril.
Digital India Act, 2023 (noun) – New Digital India Act will be a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s cyberlaws; it is a broad overhaul of the decades-old Information Technology Act, 2000.
regulation (noun) – supervision, overseeing, monitoring, inspection; control, direction, guidance.
intermediary (noun) – social media website, eCommerce website, blogging platform, search engine, telecom provider, Internet platform (hosting user-generated content), cloud provider, etc.
internet intermediary (noun) – a company that facilitates the use of the Internet.
outline (verb) – define, indicate, summarize.
crux (noun) – essence, most important point, central point.
make a case for something (phrase) – to mention the reasons why something should be done.
robust (adjective) – strong, powerful.
Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 (noun) – it is an Act of the Indian Parliament notified on 17 October 2000. It is the primary law in India dealing with cybercrime and electronic commerce.
obsolete (adjective) – out of date, outdated, old-fashioned, no longer in use, discontinued, discarded.
ominously (adverb) – alarmingly, threateningly, dangerously, menacingly, forbiddingly.
sought past tense of seek (verb) – try, aim, attempt.
revisit (verb) – reexamine, reevaluate, reanalyze, review.
at all (phrase) – in any way; to any extent.
compliance (noun) – adherence, observance, conformity.
burden (noun) – responsibility, onus, obligation, liability.
in particular (phrase) – specifically, especially, particularly.
onus (noun) – responsibility, burden, obligation, liability.
arbitrate (verb) – judge, adjudicate, negotiate, mediate, intervene, decide, determine.
weight (verb) – attribute importance to; provide value to.
in favour of (phrase) – in support of, to the advantage of, approving of.
of the day (phrase) – existing at a particular period of time.
invite (verb) – cause, lead to, call forth, bring on, make happen.
constitutionality (noun) – legality, lawfulness, legitimacy, validity, rightness, permissibility.
committee (noun) – panel, council, advisory body,
adjudicate (verb) – adjudge, judge, decide, settle, resolve.
moderation (noun) – the process of doing something within reasonable limits; temperance, fairness.
take down (phrasal verb) – remove, eliminate, withdraw.
the take down (noun) – (the) removal, elimination, withdrawal.
mark (verb) – indicate, represent, signify.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) (noun) – The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is the nodal agency of the Government of India to disseminate information to the print and electronic media on government policies, programmes, initiatives and achievements. It functions as an interface between the Government and the media and also serves to provide feedback to the Government on people’s reaction as reflected in the media.
in sum (phrase) – in short, briefly, in a nutshell, to sum up.
hate speech (noun) – abusive or disrespectful speech.
disinformation (noun) – fake news, made-up story, false information, lie, falsehood.
accountable (adjective) – responsible, answerable, liable.
play a role (phrase) – contribute to, be instrumental in, be a factor in.
come up with (phrasal verb) – propose, put forward, present.
periodic (adjective) – regular, recurrent, repeated, occasional.
well taken (adjective) – sound, justifiable, convincing.
shut down (phrasal verb) – close down, stop, halt.
in the interest of (phrase) – in order to achieve something (a specific result); of at the altar of.
public order (noun) – it means the situation that exists when people obey the laws, rules or authority of the State.
consequence (noun) – adverse results/fallouts; after-effects, repercussions.
needlessly (adverb) – unduly, unnecessarily, inappropriately, unreasonably, unjustifiably.
onerous (adjective) – burdensome, difficult, tough, troublesome, stressful.
punitive (adjective) – (of an activity) punishable by law; disciplinary, penal, corrective.
vitiate (verb) – destroy, impair, spoil, ruin.
legitimate (adjective) – valid, reasonable, reliable; legal, lawful.
keener comparative form of keen (adjective) – extremely keen, eager, or enthusiastic.
regulate (verb) – supervise, oversee, monitor, check, inspect, administer.
critical (adjective) – criticizing, disapproving, unfavourable, fault-finding.
dissent (noun) – opposition, disapproval, disagreement, lack of agreement, difference of opinion, protest.
representative (noun) – official.
elected representatives (noun) – Elected representatives are elected by the people in a country, city, or other geographical unit to represent them in a legislature or government.
the state (noun) – the government, the administration, the executive, the regime.
provision (noun) – term, clause, requirement/condition.
Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, 1996 (noun) – it states that “no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” it protects Americans’ freedom of expression online by protecting the intermediaries they all rely on. Section 230 has protected all: small blogs and websites, big platforms, and individual users.
explicitly (adverb) – clearly, unequivocally, understandably (without question/doubt).
immunity (noun) – exemption, exclusion, exception, indemnity, freedom, exemption from punishment, freedom from punishment.
with respect to (phrase) – in relation to something; referring to; concerning
go a long way (phrase) – will be very successful; help to achieve something.
catalyse (verb) – to cause/accelerate some action/process.
Net (noun) – Internet.
development (noun) – growth, evolution, progress, improvement.
misinformation (noun) – disinformation, false information, alternative fact, fake news, false rumour.
whittle down (verb) – reduce, cut down, lessen, decrease.
core (noun) – the fundamental/essential/central part of something.