The Hindu Editorial (A wolf in watchdog’s clothing) – Mar 01, 2021

The new rules introduced by the Centre last week to regulate all types of digital platforms, with the idea of redressing user grievances and ensuring compliance with the law,… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (A wolf in watchdog’s clothing) – Mar 01, 2021.

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The Hindu Editorial (A wolf in watchdog’s clothing) – Mar 01, 2021:

a wolf in (sheep’s) clothing (phrase) – a person or thing that looks to be good or friendly but is very dangerous/bad in reality.
watchdog (noun) – a person or organization that monitors/inspects/supervises others’ activities/conducts. inspector/supervisor, observer, ombudsman.
regulate (verb) – control, oversee, administer something (by using rules and regulations).
soft-touch (noun as modifier) – accommodating, cooperative, helpful, sympathetic, friendly.
opt (verb) – choose, select, decide on, go for.
predatory (adjective) – exploitative, greedy, rapacious, avaricious.
redress (verb) – rectify, correct, put right, set right, reform, sort out, deal with.
grievance (noun) – complaint, criticism, problem, objection/protest.
compliance (noun) – conformity, observation, adherence.
unsettling (adjective) – disturbing, upsetting, distressing.
end up (phrasal verb) – come/appear, find oneself (to a particular course of action in the end).
leverage (noun) – influence, authority, sway, control, say, dominance, advantage.
intermediary (noun) – social media website, eCommerce website, blogging platform, search engine, discussion board, etc.
implications (noun) – consequence/outcome, ramification, repercussion.
freedom of expression (noun) – the ability of an individual or group of individuals to express their beliefs, thoughts, ideas, and emotions about different issues free from government censorship, restraint, or legal penalty.
right to information (RTI) (noun) – It empowers every citizen to seek any information from the Government, promotes transparency and accountability in the working of the Government.
The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (noun) – the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 has been framed 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 2011. It empowers ordinary users of social media, embodying a mechanism for the redressal and timely resolution of their grievances. Rules about digital media and OTT focuses more on in house and self-regulation mechanism whereby a robust grievance redressal mechanism has been provided while upholding journalistic and creative freedom. The guidelines have been framed keeping in mind the difference between viewership in a theatre and television as compared to watching it on the Internet.
oversight (noun as modifier) – monitoring, supervision, surveillance, inspection.
mechanism (noun) – procedure, process, method/technique.
progressive (adjective) – forward-looking, forward-thinking, dynamic.
liberal (adjective) – progressive, forward-thinking, broad-minded.
seek (verb) – ask for, appeal, request, demand.
address (verb) – tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.
misapprehension (noun) – mistake, error, misinterpretation, illusion.
curb (verb) – control, contain, restrict, limit.
freedom of speech (noun) – the right to express opinions without government interference.
soft tone (noun) – soft attitude/mode of expression.
notwithstanding (conjunction) – although, in spite of the fact that, despite the fact that, even though.
streaming (noun) – a process of transmitting or receiving (data, especially video and audio material) over the internet.
adhere to (verb) – abide by, follow, obey, comply with.
cumbersome (adjective) – complicated, complex; awkward/hard to deal with.
three-tier (noun) – three-level, three-layer.
regulation (noun) – supervision, policing, overseeing, monitoring, inspection.
apex (noun) – top, the highest point.
in itself (phrase) – of itself, by itself, as such.
unprecedented (adjective) – not done or experienced before.
all along (phrase) – from the beginning, all the time.
self-regulate (verb) – regulate oneself without external intervention.
chilling (adjective) – frightening, terrifying, disturbing/horrifying.
pertain to (verb) – concern, relate to, be connected with.
purview (noun) – outlook, perspective, perception.
Information Technology Act (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.
regulatory (adjective) – supervisory, managerial, controlling.
ambit (noun) – limits, scope, purview.
legislative (adjective) – relating to legislation; involving or relating to the process of making and passing laws.
flag (verb) – indicate, identify, point out.
seek (verb) – try, aim, attempt.
with respect to (phrase) – concerning, regarding, relating to, with reference to.
adherence (noun) – compliance, observance, conformity.
Code of Ethics (noun) – a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity.
among other things (phrase) – used to indicate that there are several more things like the one mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all.
norms of journalistic conduct (noun) – compiled in a compendium (manual) titled “Norms of Journalistic Conduct’, the norms act as a reference guide in varying circumstances for the journalists.
compile (verb) – organize, arrange, put together, collate, assemble.
Press Council of India (PCI) (noun) – a statutory, adjudicating organization in India formed in 1966 by its parliament. It is the self-regulatory watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press, that operates under the Press Council Act of 1978.
Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (noun) – An Act to regulate the operation of cable television networks in the country and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
encounter (verb) – experience, come up against, come across, be faced with.
per se (adverb) – in itself, of itself, by itself, as such, intrinsically.
vicious (adjective) – spiteful, menacing, heinous, hostile, hate-filled.
furnish (verb) – provide, present, give.
take up (phrasal verb) – accept, say yes to, agree to, accede to, adopt; engage in, become involved in.
complainant (noun) – litigator, appellant, claimant, plaintiff.
dissatisfied (adjective) – discontented, unsatisfied, disappointed, disquieted, unhappy.
escalate (verb) – rise, intensify.
inter- (prefix) – between.
set up (phrasal verb) – establish, start/begin, inaugurate, create.
compliance burden (noun) – regulatory burden.
entity (noun) – organization, institution, establishment, outfit.
floodgate (noun) – something which is restraining/holding back/stifling an outflow of something else.
open the floodgates (phrase) – to make something easier for a lot of things to happen (or) to make it possible for a lot of people to start doing something that was not permitted previously.
intervention (noun) – the process of intervening in something; involvement, interference, intrusion, meddling.
potential (noun) – possibilities, potentiality, prospects.
trigger (noun) – cause, reason; an event that causes a particular action/process.
offence (noun) – attack, onslaught, assault; crime, illegal/unlawful act, misdeed, wrongdoing.
encrypted (adjective) – concealed/hidden with secret code.
there is no denying (phrase) – it is undoubtedly true.
highlight (verb) – underline, underscore, emphasize, call attention to.
pornography (noun) – obscene or indecent digital material (movies, pictures, magazines, etc.,) that show or describe sexual matters in order to cause sexual excitement.
imagery (noun) – image.
besides (preposition/linking adverb) – in addition to, as well, apart from.
tighten (verb) – make stricter, make more rigorous, make more stringent, stiffen, toughen.
inevitable (adjective) – unavoidable, inescapable, bound to happen, sure to happen, unpreventable.
given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
implant (verb) – instil, inculcate, insinuate, introduce.
counterproductive (adjective) – harmful, damaging, dangerous/destructive.
guard (verb) – protect, watch over, look after, keep an eye on, take care of.
excesses (noun) – uncontrolled behaviour; unrestricted conduct; extreme, violent actions which are unacceptable.
the scheme of things (phrase) – in the way things normally/generally happen or arranged to happen (when compared with/related to other things) in a particular situation; a general view of the situation as a whole.
advocate (verb) – recommend, advise, uphold, support, back.
free pass (noun) – (unrestricted) approval.
in place (phrase) – set up, established, arranged.
uniform (adjective) – identical, similar, equal.
far from (phrase) – not, not at all, nowhere near.
appetite (noun) – longing, yearning, strong desire/liking.
vital (adjective) – key, essential, important.
run-in (noun) – fight, quarrel, disagreement, argument, dispute, difference of opinion.
defy (verb) – resist, take a stand against, confront.
handle (noun) – a person’s username on a social media platform.
environment (noun) – situation.
nightmare (noun) – very unpleasant or frightening experience; ordeal, horror, torment.
casualty (noun) – victim.
predator (noun) – a person who is cruelly exploiting other people. (an animal that hunts and kills other animals for food).