Question

Which of the following is/are included under Section 2(1)(w) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 describing the Intermediary? (1) Cyber Cafes
(2) Telecom Regulators
(3) Social Media Platforms
(4) Internet Service Providers

• A. (1), (2) and (4)
• B. (1), (2), (3) and (4)
• C. (1), (2) and (3)
• D. (1), (3) and (4)

Hint:

Under the IT Act, intermediaries must exercise due diligence to avoid liability for third-party content and ensure cybersecurity compliance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding “Intermediary” under IT Act, 2000.
As per Section 2(1)(w) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, an intermediary is any person who, on behalf of another, receives, stores, transmits, or provides any service concerning electronic messages. This includes entities like telecom service providers, network service providers, internet service providers, web-hosting services, search engines, online marketplaces, and cyber cafes.
Step 2: Application to options.
All entities listed — cyber cafes, telecom regulators, social media platforms, and ISPs — act as intermediaries facilitating digital communication and transactions.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Hence, the correct answer is (D) — cyber cafes, social media platforms, and internet service providers are included as intermediaries under Section 2(1)(w). Telecom regulators are not considered intermediaries.